A Butler Township salon has given free haircuts to veterans for almost a decade
BUTLER TWP — While Tara Farley’s father was living in VA Butler Healthcare’s community living center about 10 years ago, she began taking her salon on the road to offer free haircuts to her dad and the other residents of the center every few weeks.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic put the regular haircut visits on hold for more than a year, Farley and some employees of Shear Heaven Salon have returned to the community living center to offer regular haircuts on-site. On Wednesday, June 26, the crew of three hairstylists gave haircuts to nearly 40 veterans living in the center.
Mary Ann Capuzzi, recreation therapist for the community living center, said residents of the center went months without haircuts after the former stylist left the VA about 10 years ago. Farley’s regular visits to the center have made it easier to keep the veterans living in the center clean and trim, Capuzzi said.
“They’re doing just about everyone here,” Capuzzi said Wednesday.
Farley, owner of Shear Heaven Salon, said she is happy to offer the haircuts, because she and several of her employees have personal connections to veterans. She also said the community living center residents have been good clients for the stylists of the salon.
“They know what they want; they will tell you exactly what they want,” Farley said. “And they appreciate it a good bit.”
Eddie Marx, a resident of VA Butler Healthcare, said from the barber’s chair that he appreciates a haircut every chance he can get, but just a trim for his long-standing beard.
“I’ve had this beard for over 50 years,” Marx said.
