For more than a decade, Great Clips has been a proud supporter of the Wigs for Kids nonprofit organization — which provides high-quality hair pieces made from donated hair to children and young adults experiencing severe hair loss.

The local salon, located off of U.S. Highway 72, offers 50 percent off all haircuts to the individuals who selflessly choose to donate their luscious locks to the worthy cause that combats hair loss to youth possibly undergoing cancer treatment. 

“I follow Wigs for Kids on Facebook and recently I got to watch an unboxing where a child received a wig — it was really, really cool,” Cari Walters, who has worked at Great Clips for 12 years, told The News Courier. “I love being able to do this. Being able to help out is so important, and knowing that their new style gives somebody else the chance to experience their own new style is awesome.”

Walters said the local store has participated in the Wigs for Kids donation program every year she has been there, but recently she has noticed an uptick in the number of donations. Participation in the program varies based on the location of the Great Clips across the country. 

Veronica Meugniot, a 59-year-old Athens resident who moved to the area in November 2020, said she had been looking for a way to donate her own hair for several months before discovering the Wigs for Kids program at Great Clips. 

“I just thought that doing this would be a good thing to do for people,” Meugniot said after donating four 12-inch locks of her hair. “I believe it would have been a waste to let something like this go to waste when there are plenty of other people out there who really need it. I think it’s awesome that Great Clips does this, because it speaks volumes about how much they care for people. It took me a long time to find a place like this, but I’m so glad I did.”

Along with the Wigs for Kids program, Great Clips’ Clips for Kindness program offers free complimentary clipper cuts to individuals experiencing hair loss due to cancer treatment. The worthwhile program was started in 2011 after Great Clips Vice Chair of the Board Rhoda Olsen was diagnosed with stage 4 metastasized breast cancer. 

Olsen passed away after her battle with cancer in 2015, according to greatclips.com, but the program that she helped spearhead has lived on in her memory — giving countless individuals the power to decide when and where they want to lose their hair.

If you are considering donating your hair, or know of someone who could benefit from the Clips for Kindness program, visit their salon at 935 U.S. Highway 72 Suite D or call them at 256-771-977 for more information.