The NMU student organization Women for Women will be hosting its fifth annual “Do You Have 8 Inches?” Hair Donation Drive from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24 in the Payne/ Halverson lobby.
According to Jenelle Pelletier, a member of Women for Women, all types of hair, including permed, bleached and dyed hair, will be accepted, provided it is eight inches or longer.
She said the hair collected during the drive will be donated to Children with Hair Loss, a non-profit organization located in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Their mission is to supply wigs for children with medical-related hair loss at no cost. Women for Women has collaborated with Children with Hair Loss since 2008 to help with the efforts.
Women for Women reported that last year 2,610.5 inches of hair were donated during the hair drive, a record high for the NMU organization.
“I’ve been to the event for four years,” Pelletier said of the first time she donated hair at the drive. “The first time I went, I cut my hair and there were a ton of people. People rally around and we keep track of how many inches that we collect in the lobby so people can visualize it, and it kind of encourages other people to cut their hair, too.”
Pelletier said students can donate hair even after the hair drive is over as Children with Hair Loss accepts donations on a rolling basis. The process is just as simple as going to the hair drive and can be done at any time.
Former NMU student Brice Burge has donated four times through the Women for Women hair drive as well as donating through other organizations since he was 14 years old.
“I donate with the eight inches campaign by Women for Women because it’s a good cause and it’s something that is easily done,” Burge said. “Donating can be difficult when you’re poor, so donating hair is a great option, and donating in a drive like this can give a different kind of support for someone who may need or care for someone who needs the services of the Children with Hair Loss organization.
“To see, hear or read about a student organization that created an event for anybody to come and support the people who have to go through so much can mean lot to people.”
Women for Women will also be holding a bake sale during the drive and accepting monetary donations for students who are unable to donate.
This year’s hair drive will also be incorporated with Relay for Life and Self-Acceptance week in an effort to spread awareness about the upcoming events.
“We’re trying to incorporate this with our Relay for Life team event,” Pelletier said. “We have purple cancer awareness ribbon stickers that we’re going to have for sale at this event.”
Women for Women is a service organization based out of the all-female housing on campus. They hold events such as Striking Out Cancer, Self-Acceptance Week and Save Second Base. Women for Women meet 9 p.m. Monday nights in the Payne/ Halverson basement and everyone is welcome to join. For more information about Women for Women, Children with Hair Loss or questions about the hair drive, email [email protected].
