Friday, December 9, 2011

Locks of Love


How would you feel if you woke up this morning and all of your hair had fallen out? Would you feel exposed? Depressed? As if part of your identity was missing? Think about that as you read a little bit about today's charity: Locks of Love. 

From their website:

Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. We meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prostheses we provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.

Mission Statement
Our mission is to return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need.

Visit the photo gallery for before and after pictures of children who have received hair from Locks of Love.

Now, I know that not all of us have enough hair to donate, but that is just one option. You can also become a volunteer, or donate funds. If you, or someone you know, owns a salon, they can become a participating salon. You can post a "banner link" on your website or blog to raise awareness about Locks of Love. And, there are jewelry and other items for sale on the Locks of Love website.

As a woman, I know that my hair is a very important part of my identity. Imagine being a child and losing all of your hair. Children can be very hurtful to each other when someone looks different. Having a hair prostheses can help boost self-esteem in children who have lost their hair. Please visit the Locks of Love website for more info!

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