Free back-2-school cuts for kids
Spent the middle of my day down at Luv'd Ones barber shop on Sterling and Highland watching a slew of cute kids filing in to get their shaggy manes whipped into shape.
As an aside, Luv'd Ones looks and feels like a good place to get a cut. Lots of energy and lively conversation.
"News," a 35-year-old barber, tightens up 7-year-old Terrance Stone Jr.'s fade.
A broader scene from inside the barber shop.
Click below for a timely little story ...
By Robert Rogers
Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO -- No kid wants to start school with a funky 'doo.
But with the economy in the dumps, expenses like haircuts for the kids can get postponed or just plain cut from strained budgets, especially those of low-income parents.
"It seems like a little thing, but something like a fresh haircut can boost a kid's self-esteem and get them excited about going to school," said Terrance Stone, president and CEO of Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy, the nonprofit youth betterment program.
Stone's program partnered with Luv'd Ones, a local barbershop, to deliver free back-to-school hair-cuts to nearly 200 local youngsters on Thursday.
The haircuts were given at three locations in San Bernardino, one in Redlands and one in Fontana, Stone said.
At Luv'd Ones in the 2000 block of East Highland Avenue in San Bernardino, barbers stayed busy cutting, trimming and buzzing youthful heads while parents and siblings looked on.
Yvette Castillo, 35, brought her two sons and a daughter to Luv'd Ones to get trimmed for school.
"For me, it's about good hygiene and comfort," Castillo said while keeping her eyes glued to her son Alfredo, 14, as he got his shaggy hair shaved close. "For them, it's nice to look good on your first day."
Barbers at the shop said the haircuts for kids normally cost $10.
"It makes me remember when I was a kid, saving my money to get a haircut," said barber Maurice Griffin, 37, sweeping up the shavings of his most recent customer. "I've seen a lot of smiling kids and parents today."
Stone said he got the idea of providing free haircuts from a conversation he had with an executive in Children's Fund, the non-profit arm of the the county's Children's Network.
The free haircuts were open to all kids ages 5 to 18.
"It's sort of like new school clothes," Stone said. "Not all parents can afford to get their kids all the newest stuff, but we can make it easier for them to get the kids excited and confident about starting school."
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Andrew Edwards. E-mail Andrew here.
Terrance Stone and Young Visionaries are an asset to the city. It is great to see local businesses supporting the citizens as well.
I think It's really great hat Luv'd one gave hair cuts to the kids for the school yr.there are great barbers.I have a son that has been going there when he was about 9 yrs old.he still goes there from time to time,my grandson has been going there for about 6 yrs.I think there should have been a little more advertisement for the kids.bot I still think it is great.I have always liked the atmosphere there.just guys shooting the breeze and doing great jobs for the kids.the precision they make on heads are fantastic.I am raising 3 grandsons and I sure would have liked to know about this hair cut thing they had.I can't afford 1 hair cut but not 3.Mr. Stone THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FOR OUR YOUNGSTERS.WE NEED YOU ALL TO COME TOGETHER FOR OUR CHILDREN. THANX FOR THE JOBS WELL DONE. LINDA IN HIGHLAND
When will Luv'd Ones do this again?