William Penn Life, 2005 (40. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2005-10-01 / 10. szám
Charitable Ideas Locks of Love You can help restore a child's self-esteem and confidence simply by donating a lock of your hair LAKE WORTH, FL - Locks of Love is a not-for-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of 18 with medical hair loss. These custom-fitted hair prosthetics are provided free of charge or on a sliding scale to children whose families meet the Locks of Love Board of Directors guidelines. Donors provide the hair, volunteers staff the office, and a manufacturer hand-assembles each piece, a process which requires approximately four months. Such hairpieces normally sell at retail for between $3,500 and $6,000. The organization, which began in 1997, has helped over 1000 children since its first year of operation. Thousands of bundles of donated hair arrive from around the country as a result of national publicity Locks of Love receives in newspapers, magazines and television programs. The donations continue to pour in. Most donors mail a note and a photo with their bundle of hair. Children comprise over 80 percent of the donors, making this a charity where children have the opportunity to help other children. Locks of Love provides its recipients with a custom, vacuum-fitted hairpiece made entirely from donated human hair. The vacuum fit is Charity Links For more information about Locks of Love, donating hair or money, organizing an event or applying for a hairpiece for someone in need, log onto: 3 www.locksoflove.org designed for children who have experienced a total loss of scalp hair and does not require the use of tape or glue. Most of the applicants suffer from an auto-immune condition called alopecia areata, for which there is no known cause or cure. Others have suffered severe bums, or endured radiation treatment to the brain stem, in addition to many other dermatological conditions that result in permanent hair loss. Donated hair is evaluated for its usefulness according to the following guidelines: • The donated hair must be at least 10 inches (preferably 12 inches) in length. • It must be bundled in a pony tail or braid. • It must be free of hair damaged by chemical processing. Ask your stylist if you aren't certain. Bleached hair is not acceptable. • The hair must be clean and dry, placed in a plastic bag, and mailed in a padded envelope to: Locks of Love, 292510th Avenue N., Suite 102, Lake Worth, FL 33461. Hair that was cut years ago is still useable as long as it was stored in a ponytail or a braid that measures 10 inches or more. Hair that has fallen to the floor and swept up, or is otherwise unbound cannot be used. Also unuseable are switches, wigs, falls, wefts or synthetic hair. Monetary donations to Locks of Love are tax deductible. Donated hair that is not suitable for use in children's hairpieces may be sold at fair market value to offset the cost of manufacturing. Individuals and groups can participate in Locks of Love in a variety of ways. Many choose to hold an "Inch-A-Thon" where hair donors collect monetary pledges for every inch of hair they have cut and donate. Others help raise awareness in the hometowns by informing local hair salons about the Locks of Love mission and asking them to participate. Still others work more closely with local salons, organizing single-day events or ongoing hair drivess. The salon charges a certain amount for haircuts of any length. The money is then donated to Locks of Love. This makes people aware of the need for financial donations, especially if people are not willing to part with 10 or more inches of their hair. Singleday hair drives can work in a similar fashion, but often have the added benefit of drawing more media attention. If you know a child who may qualify for a Locks of Love wig, you can contact the organization at 561- 963-1677 or get a copy of the application form at the Locks of Love website at www.locksoflove.org. |wpl| William Penn Life, October 2005 3
