Marisol Ortiz has her hands full. Her house is filled with family members, including four children, one with autism.
So, Ortiz decided to start a blog about two months ago to help her deal with her stresses of everyday life as a mother.
Now, she is using her newfound outlet to help her community. Mari Likes, along with the cosmetology department at Plant City High School, will host a Locks of Love drive from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the high school.
“The purpose is to help someone else that my be going through the same situations,” Ortiz said. “I talk about things people just don’t talk about. I want to help.”
Ortiz first learned about Locks of Love in June, after donating her own hair. She had two full ponytails, totaling 21 inches.
Locks of Love is a public, non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 21, who are suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.
“I didn’t know why they needed the hair,” Ortiz said. “Then, I saw that it was for children who lost their hair, and it melted my heart.”
Although Ortiz doesn’t have any family members who have had cancer, she does know friends and neighbors with breast and ovarian cancer. She decided to start planning a drive to donate even more hair to Locks of Love.
Her first step was to find salons willing to participate. That’s when she remembered Plant City High had a cosmetology department. She asked the department if they would cut and style the hair.
“I thought that would be perfect,” Ortiz said. “They had donated hair before but never cut it. I thought that was really cool. They agreed.”
In addition to getting a cut and style, Mary Kay consultants will be completing the look with a makeover. Ortiz is a consultant.
“I thought it would be so cool to do makeovers,” Ortiz said. “Just because they gave back. It’s a thank you to them.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
LOCKS OF LOVE DRIVE
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16
WHERE: Plant City High School, 1 Raider Place, Plant City
CONTACT: Marisol Ortiz, (813) 441-4988 or info@marilikes.com
BLOG: marilikes.com
DONATION DETAILS
• Colored or permed hair t is acceptable.
• Hair cut years ago is usable if it has been stored in a ponytail or braid.
• Hair that has been bleached (usually this refers to highlighted hair) is not usable. If unsure, ask your stylist.
• Hair that is swept off of the floor is not usable, because it is not bundled in a ponytail or braid.
• Hair that is shaved off and not in a ponytail or braid is not usable. If shaving your head, first divide hair into multiple ponytails to cut off.
• Layered hair is acceptable, if the longest layer is 10 inches. Layered hair may be divided into multiple ponytails.
• Curly hair may be pulled straight to measure the minimum 10 inches.
Source: Locks of Love