Barbara Goodson of Have Shears, Will Travel is Wednesday’s Program
Barbara Goodson of Have Shears, Will Travel is Wednesday’s Program. This Will be an outstanding program about a Hair Ministry
Have Shears Will Travel, a registered 501c3, has been providing free haircuts and grooming needs since April 2015. In that short time, we have met many important milestones, serving over 4,000 homeless, hospice and special needs adults by networking with over 20 nonprofit service agencies, hospice and rehab care providers throughout greater Houston. In order to advance our mission, in the fourth quarter of 2016 we were successful in purchasing a pre-owned motorhome which was converted into a mobile hair salon enabling us to increase our number served to over 400 per month.
In addition to networking with local nonprofit agencies, Have Shears Will Travel accepts requests from local church pastoral ministries that may have members with physical restrictions due to surgery, unable to obtain hair care. Have Shears Will Travel provides its services within the privacy of their homes, a hospital or nursing home.
Please tell us about Have Shears Will Travel.
There is no other charity in Houston (that we are aware of) that provides free haircuts, shaves, beard trims and grooming services within a mobile hair unit on a regularly scheduled monthly rotation to homeless, hospice and special needs adults. When I first began in 2015, I packed up my barber and beauty supplies in the trunk of my car and set up “shop” within the confines of whatever room the agency I was serving would put me. In some cases, I worked in a basement and/or a stairwell or maybe a small room. All I needed was an electrical outlet and a chair because I supplied everything else. Some days, at the large shelters, I would work from 9am until 5pm non-stop giving 25-30 haircuts. Now, with the aid of a driver, one full-time stylists and two part-time stylists, I am able to devote more of my time to seeking funding through grants, rotary clubs, individuals and corporations. This also gives me time to devote to speaking engagements to churches, chambers and rotary clubs to bring awareness to our services to recruit volunteers and raise money for operating costs.
There is no other charity in Houston (that we are aware of) that provides free haircuts, shaves, beard trims and grooming services within a mobile hair unit on a regularly scheduled monthly rotation to homeless, hospice and special needs adults. When I first began in 2015, I packed up my barber and beauty supplies in the trunk of my car and set up “shop” within the confines of whatever room the agency I was serving would put me. In some cases, I worked in a basement and/or a stairwell or maybe a small room. All I needed was an electrical outlet and a chair because I supplied everything else. Some days, at the large shelters, I would work from 9am until 5pm non-stop giving 25-30 haircuts. Now, with the aid of a driver, one full-time stylists and two part-time stylists, I am able to devote more of my time to seeking funding through grants, rotary clubs, individuals and corporations. This also gives me time to devote to speaking engagements to churches, chambers and rotary clubs to bring awareness to our services to recruit volunteers and raise money for operating costs.