Ten employees from two Lawrence Businesses, including Peggy Corkins, seated, joined forces to donate their hair to Locks of Love, a nonprofit that provides hairpieces to children who suffer from hair loss caused by illness. Corkins clapped after 10 inches of her hair were cut by stylist Debbie Johnson at Shear Perfection salon, 2311 Wakarusa Drive.

Carl Stover got 10 inches of hair snipped off — making it his first haircut in 10 years.

“The last time I had short hair, I was in grade school,” he said.

Stover and nine others — most of whom work at Berry Plastics in Lawrence — decided to grow out their hair, then donate it to Locks of Love, a non-profit that provides hairpieces to children who suffer from hair loss caused by illness.  

“It really feels good to know that I’m doing something for somebody else, and it’s a very simple thing to do,” said Frances Wisdom, a Berry Plastics employee who lopped about 2 feet off her hair. “Anybody can do it.”

Not exactly everyone can donate to Locks of Love. The organization accepts only ponytails that measure between 6 and 10 inches in length. The strands also must not be dyed. The longer hair will be made into wigs, while the shorter clippings are sold to offset manufacturing costs for the hairpieces.

“I haven’t had a haircut for probably two years,” said Marilyn Vanderweide, an employee at Luminous Neon Art & Sign Systems in Lawrence. Her employer works with Berry Plastics, so she decided to join with them for their group donation to Locks of Love. While her hair might feel shorter and lighter, there won’t be a shortage to the amount of thanks for her generosity.

“It’s just a little thing to lose your hair when your life is well,” Vanderweide said. “To gain that back in some fashion means so much to people.”