TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. — Our latest Everyday Hero is a Pinellas County woman who made the decision to help others – and received an unexpected and wonderful gift for it.
At a Treasure Island salon named for a fictional character who really had a lot of hair, we met Joney O’Hare and spent a few minutes chatting with her as she welcomed Kendra, one of her regular clients.
Joney is the founder of a new non-profit called Hairstylists That Love With Scissors.
She spends time volunteering her services to perform free haircuts for those in need.
“A friend of mine who runs an organization called Southern Supportive Services, Glen Wilder, asked me to come do some haircuts for his people that he helps,” Joney said. “He helps them find jobs, he helps feed them, and he helps find places to live.”
At the same time, Joney was going through some tough days with concern for her mom’s failing health.
“Friends of mine told me when something is going wrong and I’m having a hard time, then I should throw myself into helping others,” she said.
And that’s exactly what she has done. Not only cutting hair but giving those having a difficult time shampoo, conditioner, razors and other toiletries as well as clothing.
She has purchased a small bus that she plans on converting into a traveling salon to help even more.
“There’s a lot involved in making it a salon bus so that when I go to do people who might even be living on the street, they’ll have a nice, comfortable, safe environment where I can give them a haircut.”
Joney says it’s really about more than just a haircut.
“It’s a feeling,” she said. “And everybody knows when you get a haircut it makes you feel so much better and gives them a sense of confidence and brings back their dignity”.
She hopes to have the bus up and running in about six months, adding as long as she gets the funds and also needs to find someone who is experienced in conversions, including making it wheelchair accessible.
Joney says her mom’s health is improving and says being so involved now in helping others has changed who she is.
“I went from being sad and depressed to feeling useful and happy again.”