TYLER, TX (EAST TEXAS NEWS) – With back-to-school season in full swing here, many parts of the city have been hosting school-supply drives, and a Tyler barbershop wanted to be part of giving back.
Students and their families filled the waiting room and lined up outside House of Fadez Barbershop in Tyler today to receive a free haircut and backpack. Jasmine said her son’s barber had been booked with back-to-school appointments, making it hard to get in.
As a single mother, she speaks about events like this: “It helps a lot, especially for single mothers who are always working. I can’t say how much these programs mean; it’s a huge, huge help.”
Children moved in and out of the chairs for their new cuts. Josué Cruz is the owner of House of Fadez Barbershop, which opened its doors in January.
“Something like, around our third month, Tyler showed us a lot of love. Basically, it was just customers wanting haircuts, and every day we were basically full thanks to the community,” he said.
Cruz said that, as time passed, he wanted to find a way to give back to the people who helped them get a solid start.
“I expected people, but not this many. But I’m glad everyone is coming,” he said.
About 20 sponsors made the event possible, from food vendors and music to school-supply donors. The J. Chad Parker law firm sponsored a snow-cone truck so people could enjoy treats while they waited outside.
“We try to do that every week all summer with the snow-cone truck. And as summer winds down, we’re, of course, open to helping anyone who asks, and people reach out to us. We cover it and hope people enjoy it,” Chad Parker said.
Cruz said he received a lot of support that day.
“I get big smiles from the kids. That’s really what matters, you know: they like their haircut, they’ll go back to school with a nice cut. That’s what we’re getting, and of course, the support from people,” Cruz said.
GV Beauty Salon was also present today to help with haircuts and keep things moving.
