While load shedding has hampered many locals and businesses alike, it has not stopped a local barber from his charity initiative that sees free cuts for seniors.
Warren Theunis, known as Mr Barber has been running the Groomed for Change initiative for several years which sees him team up with local barber shops to offer free cuts to seniors on the last Wednesday of every month in Strandfontein and more recently added Bridgetown.
He visited Bridgetown on Wednesday 6 July, servicing 15 seniors from the area.
This was his first time in the area.
Theunis had been using a chair at The Village Barber Shop for the past few sessions, but has since acquired a mobile barber bus which is fully equipped.
“Times are really tough as a small business owner, and then there’s the impact of what I now refer to as the ‘Covid effect’. I have every intention to keep my word to the seniors, that I will provide them with a free haircut, and to myself that I will use whatever resources at my disposal to fulfil my promise.
“I cannot expect the local barber shop that has hosted seniors day with me, to turn away paying clients, without compensation. The bus allows Seniors Day to continue without taking away an opportunity of income for the barber shop,” he says.
“Where loadshedding really proved to be a challenge, was the planning of our monthly senior day. Strandfontein was affected from 08:00-10:30 and that’s right about the time senior day is in full swing. So having the mobile barber shop ready was a God sent. I also assisted the barbers with access to cordless tools, so even though the power was out. They could still generate an income during loadshedding. And for that I am grateful.”
Together with the help of Tashwell Barendilla and Andre Visser, resident barbers of The Village Barber shop, a total of 38 seniors received a free cut on Wednesday 29 June.
Thanks to a top bakery, each senior also received a loaf of bread.
“The seniors – many of whom are retired – still find themselves providing for a household and sometimes that includes grandchildren. So serving them, even just once a month reminds them that they are not forgotten nor alone.
“I can only hope that this behaviour gets adopted by many in the community, as many hands make light work,” he says.
