- Rick the Barber hosted his 21st annual back-to-school haircut event.
- More than 200 students received free haircuts and a brand new backpack full of school supplies.
- Watch the video to learn more about the motivation behind this action and the relief it brings to Woodville’s neighbors.
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MISSION:
A fresh cut for a new start at school.
I’m Kenya Cardonne, your local reporter in southeast Tallahassee, where neighbors in Woodville are receiving financial relief for the start of school with free haircuts and school supplies.
ACE Hardware in Woodville was a little busier than usual on Sunday.
Because at the very bottom of the list was a good cause: to ensure that the children look and feel good on their first day of school.
Rick Thompson and his partner Robbin Wiggins spent hours cutting hair for free.
Rick Thompson, hairdresser – “I don’t know how much a haircut changes a child, but I know how much it changed me.”
Rick was born and raised in Woodville and remembers skipping school because he couldn’t go to the barber shop.
Thompson – “I said if I can come back and shave a few heads and make some kids not be able to go to school or not want to go because they don’t have a haircut, then I’ll come back and do it every year.”
A vow he has kept for the past 21 years.
On Sunday, over 200 children came in for a fresh haircut and went home with a brand new backpack full of school supplies.
Brittany Dabney, neighbor – “Especially after last weekend’s storm that brought everyone together…”
For neighbor Brittany Dabney, mother of two boys, it is a blessing.
Dabney – “So many kids and families can’t go into town or anywhere else just to get a haircut or something like that. It’s a blessing to have this here locally.”
Other neighbors I spoke to told me that in addition to the financial relief, they simply appreciate the helping hand in boosting their children’s self-esteem.
Junior Somers, neighbor – “You know they have fresh outfits and shoes, so that’s all part of the setup.”
Dabney – “It’s like an image these days. You definitely have to be fresh back in school.”
Because when students feel like they are doing their best in school, they are also academically successful.
Robbin Wiggins, Barber – “They will behave like that… we hope!”
According to Rick, that’s the ultimate reward – seeing the children of our community excel.
Thompson – “Like I said, I’m going to keep going until I can’t anymore. And I’m doing it for the people here – the children.”
Woodville was one of the areas hardest hit by the May 10 tornadoes. Neighbors tell me this event was also a much-needed relief while they are still recovering from recent disasters. Southeast Tallahassee, Kenya Cardonne, ABC 27
