Number of Participants: 1
Hours Donated: 100
Value of Time Served: $845
Event Type: Children & Youth
Sport: Schools
Date: October 22, 2021
Location:
East Meadow High School
Carman Avenue, East Meadow
NY
About:
A sea of pink filled East Meadow High School’s gymnasium as students and faculty members gathered for a special cause on Oct. 22. More than a dozen volunteers donated their hair to the nonprofit organization, Children With Hair Loss. Organized by East Meadow High School senior, Natalie Hernandez, each volunteer cut at least eight inches of their hair to support the organization.
The event served as Hernandez’s Girl Scout Gold Award project with Girl Scout Troop 1256. Hernandez said she had previously donated her hair through events at Woodland Middle School, which inspired her to host a similar event at the high school. Through this project, Hernandez said she hopes to educate others on hair loss.
“Whether it’s brought on by cancer or other medical conditions, hair loss comes with extreme emotional challenges to those affected,” Hernandez said. “The wigs that will be made from our hair will be life changing to the people receiving them and will allow them to regain their confidence after suffering from a difficult time, both physically and emotionally.”
Hernandez’s project adviser, Ms. Fitzpatrick, said she has numerous family members who were affected by cancer. Ms. Fitzpatrick first met Hernandez through her living environment class when she was a sophomore.
“I’m so happy to be a part of this amazing event to help people that might need donations of hair,” Fitzpatrick said.
In addition to Ms. Fitzpatrick, Hernandez thanked district leaders and school administrators from the high school and Woodland Middle School for inspiring her to pursue this project.
Photo captions:
1: More than a dozen students and faculty members at East Meadow High School donated their hair to Children With Hair Loss on Oct. 22.
2: East Meadow High School senior Natalie Hernandez, who organized the event for her Girl Scout Gold Award project, was the final volunteer to donate hair during the event.
3: East Meadow High School student Shanelle Cruz was one of several students who volunteered to donate their hair.
4: The ponytails will be donated to the nonprofit organization, Children With Hair Loss.
Photos courtesy of the East Meadow Union Free School District