Catholic Charities of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties

They line up to get a mullet, a pixie cut, or French braids, their eyes twinkling with excitement; the first recipient of a Catholic Charities Back-to-School Haircut event hops off the chair and smiles in a mirror held by her mother. For most of the clients at this event, a new haircut would be out of the question due to the economic malaise that continues to roar through the Inland Counties; and so every bit of assistance is one less bill for the family to pay.

“Times are hard and we feel that if parents do not have enough money to buy clothes, backpacks and school supplies for their children, they do not have money for a haircut. This event held in partnership with the Riverside Community College School of Cosmology is a great example of the countless collaborations Catholic Charities forges with public agencies to help high-need, low-resource neighborhoods throughout the Inland Counties.” said Belinda Marquez, Catholic Charities’ Director - Family & Community Services.

Throughout the month of August, Catholic Charities has organized Back-to-School events at Coachella, Cathedral City, helping over 165 children. The focus has been to bring some sense of normalcy to families who are otherwise fraught with uncertainty and high financial stress.

“Most of the times it is an eye opener for the students and they are thrilled to be there providing haircuts, people take so much for granted,” said Darlene Willie, Assistant Professor of Cosmology. “Helping others lets people know that they are cared for – no matter what their economic situation is.”

For Catholic Charities to pull off the wrap-around case management services as one of the largest providers of social services in the Inland Counties, requires an exceptional web of informal relationships among likeminded organizations. While most non-profits rely entirely on monetary streams of support, Catholic Charities has flourished through in-kind donations by community partners.

“We have worked to establish positive and long-standing partnerships with organizations and service providers throughout the Inland Counties (foundations, hospitals and clinics, schools, community-based organizations, corporations, city & county government agencies, and churches).” commented Ken F. Sawa, CEO of Catholic Charities. “These relationships allow us to provide the best and the most cost-efficient services possible to the people we help.”

For the student who receives the free haircut these community partnerships mean one thing, the face they see in the mirror is one they can be proud of.