LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — As Arkansas kids head back to the classroom, many have been looking for the perfect haircut to help them start the new year in style.
To help them kick off the school year, Skillz Barbershop in Little Rock offered free back-to-school haircuts for kids on Sunday afternoon.
Barbershop owner Gary Ellison explained how his shop has been doing this for years— even before it was called Skillz.
"Even when I had a shop by myself I was still doing free haircuts for the kids," he described.
The event also featured music and refreshments for both kids and parents who were in attendance.
Lori Williams is one grandparent who brought her grandkids in for the event, however, her connections to this shop go deeper than just a cheap cut— she's known Ellison for years.
"Gary has always been like a pillar of the community around here,” Williams said. “Before he even moved over here he used to be over on Fair Park, and the kids would line up in the middle of the night, leaving one spot to get in line to get a haircut."
She explained that her grandkids were excited about the event and that she thinks it's an important service.
"With a good haircut,” Ellison said.“You go in and you know you're going to have a good day and a good school year."
Others in attendance felt the same way, with scores of kids and parents that were lined up outside before the event. Ellison said there were familiar faces among them, and added how that's what makes the event so special.
"It's just a good thing to do,” Ellison said. “Just to help out the community, because we’re from the community, so it only makes sense to give back."
However, Ellison didn’t put on the event alone. He said that groups including Entergy Arkansas and Hope Connectionz, a local nonprofit, donated to help make the event a success.
"We [fixing to] put a lot of kids in the game,” Ellison said. “They're going to look very, very nice when they hit those doors in the morning."
Ellison also said that they have more vouchers available for free haircuts which can be claimed at Skillz Barbershop located at 6801 W 12th St in Little Rock.