BROOKINGS Families have plenty to juggle before the start of the school year and getting kids haircuts isnt always a top priority. This Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., three Brookings businesspeople are teaming up to ensure at least a couple dozen local kids will get free haircuts through a program they call Looking Cool Before School.
So its kind of a brain child of mine, Shane Andersen, local realtor with Century 21 Krogman & Co., said. Alicia (Springer) from The Man Cave and Tonya (Beynon) from Reflections Hair Designs have teamed up with me. And three hours we thought was going to be long enough, so every hour in fifteen minute blocks, those two will have somebody sitting in their chair getting a haircut. Theres 24 slots available in that three hour period.
To find families who might need help with back-to-school haircuts, he reached out to Brookings Area United Way and the Brookings County Youth Mentoring Program.
I said, hey can you kind of help too? Lets spread the word, Andersen said. As soon as we were ready and thought we had everything in place, I sent the message to United Way and Brookings County Youth Mentoring Program and within an hour they were full. We didnt even have time to put it on social media or anything. So their help just setting it out there that one time, it just showed how much need there is for something like this.
While kids wait their turn for haircuts, there will also be a free meal served.
Were going to be grilling hot dogs doing a hot dog, chip and beverage meal for the families, Andersen said. One of the things that I was able to work out with United Way is those dental hygiene packages that they give out every once in a while so each kids that gets a haircut will get a dental hygiene bag that has toothpaste, and you know floss and anything that has to do with that.
He said Springer and Beynon were enthusiastic when he approached them, and the three hope to make an annual tradition out of this.
They didnt even hesitate they said count us in! Andersen said. Obviously the need is out there. Were hoping maybe itll be a bit bigger next year. Weve got to make sure the logistics work pretty well. And yeah, we could be looking for some more help next year.
Andersen said businesses interested in sponsoring or partnering with them next year should reach out to him. He said with how quickly slots filled up plus the fact that they have a waiting list of families eager to get in if theres a cancellation theyd love to expand the program and serve more kids next year.
I think its important for the kids to feel confident going to school the first day. Its a new world, new people, new teachers, Andersen said. I know when I was a kid, your first day of school no matter what grade, even into high school it was spooky. You want to be confident, and you want to just be able to walk into that classroom knowing youre ready for the day. And hopefully a clean haircut and looking good is a way to do that.
In Brookings, the first day of school is Sept. 3.
Email Jay Roe at[email protected].
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