Bobbi Fogg, left, and Tova Millett, center, of Cut Loose Hair Salon in Norway stand Sunday with Harrison Food Bank Executive Director Sandy Swett, who issued an invitation to Oxford Hills students for free haircuts before returning to school. (Courtesy photo)

NORWAY — For the second year in a row, Cut Loose Hair Salon has partnered with the Harrison Food Bank to provide free haircuts for students returning to school.

Harrison Food Bank Executive Director Sandy Swett shared a message she received from a grateful parent after their daughters received free hair cuts for back-to-school.

Food bank Executive Director Sandy Swett, always on the hunt to help those in the community, hit on the idea last summer as a way to help families defray the expense of getting their children ready for the school year.

As Cut Loose proprietor Tova Millett explained, when Swett, a client, told her about it she immediately agreed because “you never say no to Sandy, as much as she volunteers and helps so many people.”

Millett’s fellow stylist Bobbi Jo Fogg jumped on the chance to help and the two took their tools of the trade to the Ronald St. John Community Center on Waterford Road in Harrison where the food bank is located. Swett had 35 children from prekindergarten to 12th grade ready for styling.

The stylists returned to the Harrison Food Bank on Sunday and gave haircuts to 17.

Swett said there were fewer this time because she was juggling multiple projects and fundraisers for the food bank and community center, not because there is any less demand.

“We bring all our equipment, from our scissors, combs, water bottles, to our clippers,” Fogg said. “We don’t bring (hair) product because we have so many kids in one day.”

“When we walk away at the end of the day, we’re on cloud nine,” Millett said. “Those kids were so excited, and you can’t put a price on any of that.

“The second or third kid I did Sunday was like, ‘you’re my haircutter again this year!’ And when he left he asked me if I would do it again next year. I told him I hope so.”

Millett said that coming in, some children seem a little nervous but by the time they’re done they’re thankful and appreciative of their new looks.

Some brought along pictures to show Millett and Fog a look they would like. The adventurous ones put the decision in the stylists’ hands, instructing them to do what they think will look best, or to give them the latest trend.

“One little boy explained that he wanted his head shaved on the sides and pointy and straight up in the middle, so that’s what he got” Swett laughed. “The kids, and their parents, are so appreciative.”

Millett said her salon’s new stylists want to get in on the fun next year. She and Swett plan to start promoting it sooner at their locations and through social media to reach as many families as possible.

“I think we can take care of 50 or 60 in a day,” Millett said. “The feeling you get for doing it, it’s amazing. This is something I would always do!”