By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

Bobs are in this spring in St. Cloud after nearly 50 grandmothers, mothers, daughters and a few dads attended Michigan Avenue Elementary School’s first Wigs for Kids haircutting event Wednesday.

Parents hovered over their children, consulting with both the stylist and child over the length of hair that would be left after donating to Wigs for Kids, an organization which makes wigs for ill children out of donated human hair so the wigs mimic real hair. The hairpieces are molded after the child’s head, the organization’s website states, for a secure fit because children are often more active than adults.

The event, according to guidance counselor Pam Strickland, collected 46 bundles – a minimum of 460 inches – of hair, because many people donated more than the required 10 inches. The donation is enough to make two full wigs for Wigs for Kids.

The event was the brainchild of Sharon Busalacchi’s gifted fifth-grade class after the students had a discussion in October about what makes people different and decided to make Wigs for Kids a pet cause.

Strickland and Busalacchi recruited parents and community members eight months ago to allow interested donors to grow their hair. They were impressed with the turnout Wednesday.

“I’m pleased but surprised, not only by the students but that parents and community members got into the spirit of the project,” Strickland said.

Madisin Parsons received her first haircut ever at Wednesday’s event. The 4-year-old joined her 7-year-old sister Hailiey and mother Jennifer to donate 39 inches of hair among them.

“That’s so awesome. I can’t describe it,” Jennifer Parsons said, adding she learned of the event from a flier sent home with daughter Hailiey. “To see her have so much warmth in her heart for someone else, I had to (participate).”

Shrieks of laughter and disbelief filled the school’s library as a crowd of onlookers applauded participants, who sometimes grimaced and shed tears of joy and sorrow for their detached locks.

Kim Eich, whose daughter, Luna, is a kindergartner at Michigan Avenue, became emotional after a stylist cut 10 inches from her chestnut tresses; her shoulder-length bob is the first time she has sported short hair in 25 years.

“I always just let it grow,” Eich said through tears. “It feels good; it feels light. It’s good for summer.”

Eich, 33, chose to donate her hair after she and her family watched a documentary on Locks of Love, another organization that collects donated hair to make wigs for adults and children with illnesses that cause hair loss.

“I can’t imagine being in their position, or for (Luna) to be in that position,” Eich said.

Fifth-grader Amanda Torres cried during her haircut as well despite growing her hair out since August in anticipation of the event.

“I want to help kids who have disabilities,” she said. “It's fun.”

Her mother, Ivy De La Cruz, said her daughter was excited to turn 12 on Friday so she can volunteer at Give Kids the World, a local organization that aids children with life-threatening illnesses in their dreams to visit area theme parks.

“She really wants to do anything she can to help kids,” De La Cruz said.

Principal Bettye Hobbs watched parents document the event with photographs, calling it a great elementary school memory the school plans to continue annually.

“We hope it grows and grows,” she said.