Arkansas Chapter Hosts Fresh Cuts For First Responders

First Responders around the Jonesboro, AR, area were able to relax, have a bite to eat, and receive a free haircut as a thank-you for all they do in their community.

The event, Fresh Cuts For First Responders, was hosted by Arkansas Chapter 4 in celebration of National First Responders Day.

Laying the Groundwork

Melissa Godfrey, WoodmenLife’s Community Outreach Advisor in Arkansas, said Jonesboro is a “perfect-sized” city for this type of event — not too big, not too small. The town has several First Responder groups, and the chapter wanted to do something fun, yet meaningful, for them.

“We just wanted to do something that was kind of different,” she said. “We wanted to do a fun service, something the First Responders might not have time to do themselves — like getting a haircut.”

Godfrey said she wanted to find the right partner in a convenient location to provide the haircuts. She began searching for highly rated barbers in the area and found Black Rose Barber Co.

“They were remarkable,” she said. “We were going to be setting up a tent and a grill, so I wanted some visibility and traffic so the public could see us. I told the owner what we were wanting to do, and he immediately said yes.”

Though the barbershop is closed on Mondays, the employees agreed to come in on their day off to provide the free service to First Responders.

“Once we got the barbershop on board, we dedicated the day to go around to the Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department, EMTs, the Mayor’s Office — we went to every location and promoted it both in-person and online,” Godfrey said.

‘Everybody Loved It’

Godfrey said the day of the four-hour event, the First Responders arrived, ate, and enjoyed their free cuts and shaves.

“All the First Responders we spoke to, everybody loved it,” she said.

Godfrey said the event was so successful, they hope to do it again, but next time with more participation and more convenience — maybe have the barbers go directly to the First Responders.

“I just loved the enthusiasm from the chapter members,” she said. “They loved the idea and were excited about it. The barbershop got excited. Everybody we talked to loved it.”

Being able to celebrate National First Responders Day was a special moment for Godfrey and Chapter 4.

“They are not just First Responders,” she said. “When people need them the most, it’s usually a pretty dire situation. I’ve seen many First Responders be fatherly to children, to be a hug to someone who’s wrapped in a blanket watching their house burn down. They just deserve so much appreciation.”

WoodmenLife thanks First Responders for selflessly safeguarding our families, our homes, and our communities. To see how WoodmenLife supports these local heroes, visit WoodmenLife.org/First-Responders.

Written by: Cheyenne Alexis, Communications Strategist

Read More

Supporting First Responders Is Our Way of Saying Thanks

First Responders Foundation Gets an Assist From WoodmenLife

Iowa Chapter Brings Community Together for First Responders

WEB922