Dave Lawrence from That 50s Barbershop in downtown Nanaimo is preparing to embark on his 9th annual Fresh Start campaign. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

fresh start

‘The need for this is more and more:’ donations off to slow start for crucial Nanaimo program

Jul 9, 2023 | 5:52 AM

NANAIMO — A popular program is back for another year helping local kids get a fresh start on the school year.

“Fresh Start” is an annual program run by Dave Lawrence, owner of That 50’s Barbershop, on Victoria Cres. Every year he helps collect backpacks, school supplies, clothes and books to then give out to kids who might otherwise go without.

“On Sept. 2, kids can come to the downtown library to read us a story or draw us a picture then they get a free back to school haircut and a backpack filled with school supplies, clothes and books.”

Last year the program officially gave out its 1000th haircut and back to school bundle.

Hundreds of kids and family members were at the downtown library in early September 2022 for free haircuts and school supplies, donated to Fresh Start. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Donations are being collected at both Lawrence’s shop, as well as at the Harbourfront branch of the Vancouver Island Public Library.

Predictably, things are off to a slow start.

“It really does take me yelling and screaming that we need more supplies. Last year we helped hundreds of kids so we need hundreds of backpacks, tonnes of clothes, school supplies, all of it. It takes a lot to get all of that together.”

Lawrence said people will get more engaged as back to school gets closer, but the need for the program only mounts with every passing year.

“The cost of everything is going up so the need for this is more and more and more. We might have even more kids this year, so we need to be prepared.”

Cash donations are also welcomed, which will allow Lawrence to go shopping a few days prior to the event and top up the donated inventory.

More information on this year’s event, as well as needed donations, is available on their Facebook page.

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