It was cold outside, but heartwarming inside the Murray Avenue School in Lower Moreland Township, Pa.
At an assembly, youngsters cheered on kids and teachers who offered up their long ponytails to Locks of Love.
"Locks of Love" is an organization that provides hairpieces after alopecia, skin burns or cancer treatments. Many of the families can't afford hair pieces so they do it free of charge or on scale," aide Nancy Hamill of the Murray Avenue School.
For some kids, the gift was very personal.
"When I lived in my old house, one of my best friends had cancer," said 8th grader Samantha McGuigan. "I thought this would be a great way to give back."
For others, it really was a random act of kindness.
"I have a lot of hair and I always wanted to give to Locks of Love," said 7th grader Kaila Landau. "So I asked my mom and she said yes."
When the tradition started at Murray six years ago, four kids stepped up. This year 22 people were snipped, some who had spent a couple of years growing their hair.
"This year we moved it to the morning because in the past we would do it in the afternoon and, last year, we just barely got kids onto the bus in time for dismissal!" said Hamill.
The students got gift certificates, some for hair care products. Meanwhile, their locks are going to Florida to help some needy children.
Every year Dayna Shain, a local salon owner, and her stylists donate their expertise, turning newly shorn heads into fashionable hairdos.
She says the donors deserve the treat.
"I think it's so unbelievable for young girls, at this age, to be able to give back to somebody else," Shain said.
One can only imagine how thankful some child will be, every time he or she touches their new locks, given with so much love.
