I first heard of Locks of Love when I was 18 and joined the volunteer service. I had long hair down to my lower back but was moving to sweltering south Texas so I decided to cut it all off. I made a donation of a nice sized ponytail to be turned into a wig for a child in need. Today I decided to make another donation.
If you’re not familiar with Locks of Love, their website states ” Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. We meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics….The prostheses we provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.“
After moving to Montana when I was 19, I started growing my hair out again. I’ve had really long hair most of my life so I haven’t really thought about cutting it off again. Then earlier this month someone pointed out that my hair had grown so long that I could cut off 10 inches, the minimum donation amount, and still have long hair. I didn’t give it much thought at first but that comment planted a seed in my mind.
Today I decided I wanted to go for another big cut and donate some hair to Locks of Love again. I’ve cut my own hair for a number of years and always trimmed off a few inches every couple months. Once our daughter was born, hair cutting was a low priority for me. Pre-baby I kept my hair length mid to lower back, post baby it grew down past my waist. Until my husband took this picture today I didn’t realize just how long it had gotten because I often wear it in a braid at home.
We got out the tape measure and as our daughter watched, my husband cut off 15 inches of hair. It felt so wonderful knowing that out of this one big hack a ponytail of my hair was going to be sent off in the mail for a good cause.
I don’t think I ever gave it a lot of thought the last time I donated to Locks of Love since I was embarking on a life changing adventure at the time. This time, now that I’m a mama, it humbles me to be able to make this donation. I cannot fathom what it would be like to have a child with a medical condition that would cause hair loss. It is a powerful experience for me to make this donation and think about the joy it may bring a child in need.
If you have hair that is at least 10 inches and want to make a donation to Locks of Love, click here to visit their website where they list details on how to make a donation.
thats great, you still have long hair! I donated in grade 6, but have never had long enough hair since
That’s great Annie! I donated a couple of years ago when my oldest was born. I cut my hair quite short at the time and have been growing it out ever since.
I love that you do this! I do it pretty frequently and probably need to have it done again before our next lo arrives. I always have long hair and even after it is cut have plenty to spare
So great. My youngest has done this twice, the first time, 12 inches, when she was 5 (she asked after a presenter at her school showed them something about kids with cancer in order to prepare them for the illness of a classmate) The second time, she and her best friend cut off their pony tails to donate to locks of love (10 inches each) but they then went on to shave their heads for cash donations to locks of love.
I’ve had long hair for a good portion of my life, and I was so moved by my daughter’s selflessness, something that I hadn’t demonstrated to her. *tears*
It is beautiful that you are showing your peanut, what it means to give abundantly, even if your abundance is not in the form of money. This is a beautiful message to give to a child and just think of how big an effect this is going to have in terms of reinforcing a child’s natural bent toward empathy. So beautiful.
I donated my hair once and hope to do it again.
Awesome! I would love to have the courage to cut all my hair off for a worthy cause.
I want my hair as long as your was before your hubby cut it. I hope he evened it up after the picture