Hair-raising event donates 2,131 inches
Published: April 6, 2006
After moving to Connecticut last month, former Wilson student Allie Spratt, 11, said it was important to return to Berks County and have 10 inches of her hair cut off and donated to other kids.
Joining her were approximately 42 Wilson elementary students along with local residents and parents, totaling 2,131 inches - more than half a football field long - of hair cut off for the Locks of Love organization on Sunday April 2.
Their ponytails were in plastic bags filling numerous boxes at Hair On The Avenue salon in Sinking Spring.
The tails would be the beginning stage of hairpieces created for financially disadvantaged children 18 years and younger suffering from long-term medical hair loss.
Event coordinator and physical education teacher for Lincoln Park, Lower Heidelberg and West Wyomissing elementary schools Kristen Hook decided to extend the opportunity to more schools.
“We have way more people than we expected and these kids are so generous,” said Hook, who filled in this year for Wilson teacher Sharon Hill who just had a liver transplant. “It’s really kids helping kids…. cutting a little bit of hair is nothing compared to having no hair.”
She said most of the students were girls with the exception of Oley Valley Middle School student Cooper Fisher, 13. There were also combinations of mother-daughter and grandmother-granddaugher haircuts. Hook added that some students went home and returned to the Hair on the Avenue salon, Sinking Spring, with other siblings to contribute as well.
Lower Heidelberg student Kaitie Dahms, 9, said she “felt nervous but is going to do it again.” Her mother Tosha explained that Kaitie has wanted to donate her hair since finding out a relative has cancer. “I told Kaitie how people donate their hair for wigs and she said ‘I want to do that.’”
“To be able to change someone’s life by donating your hair is pretty powerful,” said Dave Meas, who co-owns Hair on the Avenue with his wife Debbie. “Anytime you can be a part of that you can’t help but jump on board.”
Meas mentioned that his entire staff volunteered their services for the day and noted the overwhelming turnout. “To see some of these kids walking out of here… at such a young age their able to give back.”
Hoping that this will be the first of many annual “Locks of Love/Hair on the Avenue” events, the salon maintains its philosophy in giving back to the community. Through the Berks County Community Foundation, Hair on the Avenue started Help of the Angels fund to make grants to charitable organizations.
“It seemed like an absolute perfect fit,” said Meas about Locks of Love.
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