“I absolutely plan to grow my hair out and donate it over and over again. My hair grows so fast, it’s the gift I can keep on giving.” – Macie Keller

As 19 inches of her hair hit the floor and the scissors were set down, junior Macie Keller looked at herself in the mirror for the first time and saw a big change for a big cause.

The organization Locks of Love receives 104,000 donations each year. This public non-profit organization offers wigs to children under the age of 21 who are suffering from long term medical hair loss. Keller contributed to that number of donations and helped restore a young child’s confidence.

“I’ve wanted to donate my hair since last Christmas. I was going to do it during break but then decided to wait until after summer because my hair grows so fast that by the end of the summer it grew another three inches,” Keller said. “I just really wanted to donate it for such a great cause.”

The steps to donating are easy to follow. According to the Locks of Love web site, a donor just has to have his or her hair in a clean ponytail or braid and then just place the hair in an envelope and send it out to Locks of Love in Florida.

“I absolutely encourage other people to donate their hair, all you need is eight inches and I’m sure there are organizations that take even less if you’re worried about the length. It’s a great feeling knowing you’re helping someone out,” Keller said. “The people the wigs go to are not physically capable of growing hair and I think we take that for granted. It’s a big change and at the end of the day it went to someone in need. I recommend it to everyone.”

Nineteen inches makes a big difference. Keller received a lot of feedback and quick reactions after her haircut.

“Everyone tells me they love it; I get compliments daily which feels really good. Especially at work, people are always telling me how cute the cut is and how great it is that I donated,” Keller said.

Senior Ally Barnett is also a generous donor to the same foundation. Barnett’s family has encouraged and supported her through every donation she has made.

“I’ve donated my hair every couple of years once it gets long enough to meet the requirements,” Barnett said. “My mom encouraged me to donate my hair when I was in 4th grade, that’s when I started”

Sometimes donating can become more meaningful and heartfelt.

“Since then it’s grown into something more; when a friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer in middle school, donating my hair became more personal because I was doing it for her and for anyone who has had cancer,” Barnett said. “My sisters and I all donate our hair. The experiences I’ve had with donating my hair have all been great, I just wish there was more I could do to help.”