Barber Gives Free Haircuts to Any Child Who Would Read to Him

To prepare children of the Iowa community for the upcoming school year, Courtney Holmes, a barber of Sparks Family Hair Salon, decided to give them free haircuts on one condition.

Kids from kindergarteners to fifth graders had to read books to Holmes in exchange for a free haircut.

The father of two told USA Today: “The kids would come in, and I would say, “Go to the table and get a book you might like, and if you can’t read it, I’ll help you understand and we can read it together.”

While some kids struggled reading some words, others breezed through their book and quickly grabbed another one.

Holmes set up a booth in a room together with non profit community organizers as part of  Back to School Bash in Comiskey Park, Iowa, an activity that aims to help students and parents prepare for the school year.

“To be honest, I was amazed. The line started with four kids, and next thing I knew it was like 20 kids, all waiting for a haircut and eager to read,” Holmes added.

Since many children are afraid to read out-loud, Sparks Family Hair Salon barber Country Holmes decided to do something special.

In exchange for a free haircut, kids had to read books to him.

“To be honest, I was amazed. The line started with four kids, and next thing I knew it was like 20 kids, all waiting for a haircut and eager to read.”

“I just want to support kids reading.”

Source: Bored Panda, USA Today, My Modern Met, sparkfamilyhairsalon.com, stmarkyouthenrichment.org