by Maggie Ybarra
Daily Lobo
Trade in your bad hairdos for some holiday cheer.
Urban Academy is asking people to donate five nonperishable food items in exchange for a shampoo, haircut and style. The food items will be donated to Roadrunner Food Bank.
Devon Van Hecke, marketing manager for the academy, said the students devised the idea.
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"It's the holidays, and they wanted to do something for the community," she said.
Urban Academy, at 2122 Central Avenue, is a cosmetology school. Students must pass a board certification before they can cut hair. The academy is accepting food donations from Dec. 10-13.
Leah Cooper, a student at the academy, was on the student council that came up with the idea.
"Since a lot of us can't do community service because we have school and work and we're here, we decided that this was the best way to help out during the holidays," she said.
Jasmine Holmstrup, communication director for the Roadrunner Food Bank, said she appreciated Urban Academy's idea.
"It doesn't occur as often as we like, but during the holiday season, we have a lot of people that donate, and we appreciate everyone that steps up to fill people's plates during the season," she said.
Although hunger is a bigger problem in the summer, people tend to donate during the holiday season because they're focused on food and family, Holmstrup said.
"Right now, with gas increases as well as food increases, people in low-income families who have one person working, they're struggling because with gas prices and food prices, they're not able to make ends meet,"
she said.
Van Hecke said that since the opportunity to trade nonperishable food items for a haircut exists for a limited time, Urban Academy will offer its services based on availability.
"We're trying to get the word out now so people can schedule their appointments," she said.
Van Hecke said the academy accepts only nonperishable items that meet a certain criteria.
"Everything has to be packaged and sealed - nothing glass," she said. "It doesn't have to be just cans. We can accept boxed food items like instant Ramen noodles and mashed potatoes - things like that. We just can't accept anything that might spoil."
Holmstrup said the idea was fabulous.
"It's a way to help those in need during this time, and we really appreciate everyone at the Urban Academy to step up and offer that in exchange for nonperishable food items," she said. "I'm going to have to go check it out. I need a haircut."
