NILES — The buzz of razors mixed with the buzz of holiday event attendees Saturday at In the Cut Barbershop, 507 Sycamore St., Niles.

In the Cut served as the host of A Day with Santa, put on by Tattoo the World, an organization seeking to raise awareness of and end gun violence in Michiana partially by connecting South Bend and Niles together in the effort.

Tattoo the World offered cookie decorating, crafts, refreshments and pictures with Santa. While children colored and adults mingled, gloves and hats were donated to the Niles Service League.

Tiara Williams, dressed as an elf Saturday, is the person behind Tattoo the World, and her event was the latest in a series of free monthly programs for community members.

“It was successful,” she said. “A lot of people came. A lot of people had a hat to donate.”

Like her other programs, A Day with Santa also sought to raise awareness on gun violence education. Williams’ brother, Brandon Williams, was killed in a mass shooting in South Bend this summer, prompting her to start Tattoo the World, named after one of Brandon’s skills.

Saturday’s event featured Bullets 4 Life Indiana, of South Bend, to help raise gun violence awareness. Director of Relations Loria Perez and Takisha Jacobs, chief ambassador, launched the state chapter in September.

The group collects live bullets off the streets to save lives and raise awareness of gun violence. It invites families suffering from gun violence to “take the life” out of the bullet by removing its gunpowder. Then, families can add a personal message to someone they loved who was killed inside the bullet’s casing. Finally, the bullet is strung onto a bracelet.

“Every bullet collected, that’s one less bullet affecting someone’s personal life, whether it be a stray bullet, retaliation, a drive by, suicide, whatever it can be,” Perez,who lost a child to gun violence, said. “That’s one less life affected.”

Perez hopes to become further connected with Williams, her family and Tattoo the World for as-of-yet-unplanned events in the future.

“This is a family I love,” she said.