Although everyone’s mindset is focused on the recent worldwide pandemic, there are still other problems in the world. For example, cancer. This disease hasn’t stopped affecting people because of COVID-19. Fortunately, there are still people out there who are willing to help out, even when times are rough.

Incoming 8th-grade student Anna Lin Berkelbaugh is a regular teen, just like anybody else. When her 13th birthday came around, she did something a little extraordinary. She cut off over a foot of her hair and donated it to a charity called “Locks for Love.” This charity takes donated hair and turns it into wigs for children with cancer. It’s small actions like these that can make big changes.

Locks of Love’s mission statement is stated as follows, “Our mission is to return a sense of self, confidence, and normalcy to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to financially disadvantaged children free of charge.” Although the world around us appears bleak and full of negativity, stories like this provide hope that we can still make a difference. Their site reads, “Locks of Love has recipients in all 50 states and Canada and aspires to help every financially disadvantaged child suffering from long-term hair loss.” Locks of Love are reaching families in many locations and through a simple haircut like Anna’s, you could help a child cancer victim have a wig and a smile on their face.

“People are just moping around the house because you can’t really do anything. You can’t really interact with others, so you might as well do some good,” Anna Lin states in a recent interview. “I know a lot of people personally that had cancer, and they had to shave their head. So I thought I may as well donate my hair.” Anna Lin says it’s as easy as walking into a haircutting place and letting them cut some hair off. She was especially inspired to help donate her hair, and Locks of Love was one of the first organizations she noticed. Even when viruses are spreading and things seem troubling in this time of misery, there is always an opportunity to step up, donate, and do some good for your community. To learn more about this organization and how they help the world, visit locksoflove.org.