Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Thursday, September 18, 2008

Abbey Rodgers donated nearly 12 inches of her hair to Locks of Love. (Photo: Lori Rodgers, Abbey's mother)

One first-grader really took to heart Millcreek Elementary’s encouragement to help others – donating nearly 12 inches of her hair to Locks of Love.

“As I was chopping her ponytail off with the scissors, she said, ‘Mom, this is just like the ROARS at our school,’” Lori Rodgers recalled of daughter Abbey. “We were very impressed that she made that connection and put her school motto into it as well.”

ROARS are the guidelines to success at Millcreek, where the school mascot is a lion. “It’s kind of like our school theme of how we do what we need to do,” said Gina Bernard, the PSA. “We repeat our ROARS every morning after the pledge (of allegiance).”

Students focus on a different concept each day of the week:

• R: Respect myself and those around me.
• O: Offer help to others.
• A: Act responsibly and safely.
• R: Reach for my dreams.
• S: Strive for academic success.

Six-year-old Abbey, who has a younger sister and brother, was eager to offer help – especially after seeing pictures on the Locks of Love Web site of sick children who had lost their hair.

“She was just very touched and said ‘I think I want to do that,’” Rodgers said.  “It was something she connected with and felt passionate about doing.”

For several months, Abbey’s mother urged her to wait awhile longer since Locks of Love needs a minimum of 10 inches to use in a wig (and it takes six to 10 donations to create one custom-made hairpiece for a child). 

“(Growing her hair out for a long period) was a big commitment to make for such a young age,” Rodgers said.

Abbey’s hair nearly reached to her waist before the Labor Day ponytail snip.

“We put it in a little bag and sent it to Locks of Love,” Abbey explained. “They’ll make a wig out of it and send it to people that don’t have hair.”

Locks of Love is a public, nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. The prostheses help to restore the kids’ self-esteem and their confidence. For more details, go to www.locksoflove.org/.