Local barbershops give free haircuts, backpacks to CPS students
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Several barber shops and hair salons around the city offered free haircuts and school supplies to Chicago Public Schools students Monday.
"We've been established for 30 years, and this has been one of my dreams to participate in back to school free haircuts," said Diann Bishop, owner of D'Jons of Chicago Barber Salon in Bronzeville. "If you've been blessed to have a business, you have to give back to the community."
This is the 15th year that local businesses have participated in the event, which is organized by Grand Boulevard Prevention Services and The Sisterhood in partnership with Chicago Safe Communities.
"We thought it was very important to raise the young people's self-esteem," State Senator mattie Hunter said. "To make them look good when they walk into the building."
Fifth grader Diego Perez was so excited to get a haircut from Bishop that he couldn't sleep, his mother, Veronica Perez, said.
"It's very important, especially for single moms and for low income parents and families out there," Perez said of the program.
Each child who attended the event received a free backpack, school supplies, and a haircut. Organizers said they would likely serve between 500 and 600 students.
