Recently I had the privilege of interviewing two Vineyard Christian School students that participated in Locks of Love. Locks of Love is an organization that accepts cut hair to make wigs and such for children who suffer from hair loss as a result of cancer treatments. People from around the country can grow their hair to a certain length and then get it cut at a hair salon and have it sent to the Locks of Love organization.

Over this past weekend I interviewed 5th grade students Buck Hess and Blake Horton as they participated in donating their hair to the organization. I asked Buck why it is that he decided to get involved. To my pleasant surprise his was not the answer I was expecting. “I heard about it from other people who had done it and told my parents ‘I really want to do this’ and so they let me do it.” I was surprised by his answer more because of his age; I expected that his parents told him about it and wanted him to do it and so he did it, or that his friends were doing it and so he did it. As his mom said, “This was totally his thing, he came to us and wanted to do it and we are very proud of him.” When Buck’s friend Blake Horton came up to face the razor, I asked Emily Horton, his sister how she felt about her younger brother participating. She replied, “I’m very proud of him, he totally wanted to do this himself and I’m very proud of him.” Both boys say that they will do it again and their actions were so inspirational that our Science teacher Mrs. Combs cut her hair short as well.

As someone who values service to those who are needy, it is very exciting for me to see fifth graders participate on their own accord in these organizations. I think that it is important for us to learn from Blake and from Buck that no matter the age you can always make a difference.

For more information on Locks of Love you can go to www.locksoflove.org



HOW TO DONATE

• 10 inches measured tip to tip is the minimum length needed for a hairpiece.

• Pony tails or braids must be in a ponytail or braid before it is cut.

• Hair must be clean and completely dry before it is mailed in.

• Place the ponytail or braid inside of a plastic bag, and then inside of a padded envelope.

If you wish to receive our personalized thank-you card, please fill out the hair donation form, or write your name and address on a full size separate sheet of paper and include inside the envelope. We cannot acknowledge donors who do not send their name and address according to these instructions.

All hair donations must be mailed to Locks of Love at: 234 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33405