Some 200 youngsters benefited from our annual Cuts & Curls, which provides fresh haircuts and hairstyles to ensure students have a confident start to the school year. Fayette County Public Schools, which teams with First Baptist Church Winchester for this event, was grateful for the two dozen barbers, stylists, and braiders who volunteered their time on Sunday afternoon. Students who found all the time slots filled received a voucher from the Paul Mitchell Beauty School, which promised 100 free appointments.
“This is an exciting partnership, and we appreciate all the staff and volunteers who make it possible,” said Tyler Murphy, chair of the Fayette County Board of Education. Murphy noted as with the week’s back-to-school activities, he could feel the energy and anticipation at Cuts & Curls as families prepared for the first day of classes.
In a new opportunity, local barber Holly Sullivan spent the afternoon in a draped-off back room serving children with sensory issues such as those with autism. “I’ve worked with students with special needs for 20 years, and I approached (Cuts & Curls organizers) because I know there’s such a need,” she said. “It’s part of the population that tends to get overlooked, and I wanted to make sure that didn’t happen.”
The Lexington Academy of Barbering hosted the Aug. 7 event, where instructors watched over aspiring professionals as they interacted with the kids. Students also picked up backpacks of school supplies collected in the previous weekend’s “Stuff the Bus” drive, received free books through our REAL Read program, and checked out learning activities aboard the district’s STEM bus. Meanwhile as a DJ played hits in the parking lot, families enjoyed refreshments under blue tents and picked up information about our school-based health clinics.
“It’s a great way to build community and connect with families,” said Miranda Scully, director of Family & Community Engagement in FCPS, adding, “We make sure students look good and feel good for the start of school.”
Contact: Lindsay Mattingly, district liaison in Family & Community Engagement, (859) 381-4482
Posted Aug. 7, 2022
