Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Teens donate their hair to Locks of Love
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Sallie
Hannah Hodges and Alicia Wells (right) have donated their trimmed hair to the organization.
Summer is quickly approaching, which means heat, pools and fun.
It also means that lots of girls (and maybe some guys) are thinking about chopping off their long hair in favor of a cute summer style. Before you chop it all off, though, think about what you may want to do with your hair after the cut.
Some teens have decided to donate their trimmed hair to Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization that takes hair to make wigs for kids with illnesses that cause them to lose their hair.
These wigs can be expensive, but Locks of Love makes them affordable. To donate hair, all you have to do is have 10 inches of hair cut off in a ponytail or braid. Then, it can be sent in a plastic bag inside a padded envelope to the organization, according to www.locksoflove.org.
Some salons will actually send the hair for you, simplifying the process even more.
Hannah Hodges, a 16-year-old home schooled student, has donated her hair to the organization several times.
"I have lots of hair, and when I want to cut it all off, I figure I can give it to people," Hannah said.
Alicia Wells, a junior at Lord Botetourt High School, has donated her hair and encourages other teens to do it.
"It felt really good to help little kids out with cancer, and they send you a little post card thanking you. It's definitely a life-changing experience to help others out with something we take for granted," she said.
Edge staffer Morgan Wampler contributed to this story.
