Norman residents facing financial hardship can get a free haircut on Aug. 26, when the Salvation Army of Cleveland and McClain Counties and Great Clips team up for the first "Haircuts for Hope" event at the McKown Center, 312 E Hayes Ave.
Four to five Great Clips stylists will cut hair from 4 to 6 p.m. The Salvation Army says shelter guests, community members and anyone who could benefit from the service are welcome to walk in.
"Something as simple as a haircut can have a tremendous impact on a person's confidence and sense of dignity," Aimee Patterson, residential services manager for the Salvation Army of Cleveland and McClain Counties, said in a statement to the Norman Transcript. "For many of our shelter guests and neighbors, this is a service that may not fit within their budget."
Kayleigh Gillenwater, a Great Clips Norman representative, said the salon chain is excited to give back and looks forward to helping as many people as possible during the event.
The partnership arrives as Norman expands services for people experiencing homelessness. Voters approved an $8 million general obligation bond in April to fund a permanent shelter and resource facility. The city's 2025 Point-in-Time Count recorded 238 unhoused individuals.
The Salvation Army operates an emergency overnight shelter on the same block as the McKown Center, with capacity for about 34 people. The shelter serves a daily community meal at 5 p.m., overlapping with the haircut event's time window.
This is the first collaboration of its kind between the two organizations in Norman. Whether Haircuts for Hope will become a recurring program has not been announced.
Residents interested in volunteering or donating can visit SalvationArmyOKC.org or call 405-364-9910.
Upcoming community dates:
- Wednesday, Aug. 26, 4–6 p.m. — Haircuts for Hope, McKown Center, 312 E Hayes Ave., Norman. Free haircuts for anyone in need.
