Every year, the city of Dubuque in Iowa has a very special event indeed. The community’s annual ‘Back to School Bash’ takes places in the city’s Comiskey Park. It’s a day in which community partners, local people, charities and organizations help get kids and families ready and prepared for the upcoming school year. It’s quite a poor area, so often the assistance proves to be invaluable for families.
Barber Courtney Holmes for the Spike Family Hair Salon wanted to help out and came up with a brilliant idea on what to do. Him and his fellow staff would pull some extra long shifts and dedicate the day to giving out free haircuts. But there was a catch to his offer… For the kid to qualify, they had to read a story from a book while in the chair.
“I just want to help out the kids, help out the community, make sure the kids are able to read a book and get a nice haircut for school,” Holmes told local newspaper The Telegraph Herald.
The scheme proved wildly popular, with queues snaking around the block. The kids all had a great day, got a chance to practice their reading and get a free trim. What’s not to love?!
“It’s great. All the kids, they want to have a good haircut to go back to school,” Caitlin Daniels, a Reading Coordinator who pitched in to help on the day said. “They’re paying through reading.”
What do you think of this idea? Could you see your town embracing something like this?