LEXINGTON, Ky. — Amy Leah Douglas recently ventured out on her own as a hairdresser. As a single mother with three school-aged children, she said she knows how difficult things can be financially, and too often parents cut corners by skipping things such as getting back-to-school haircuts and buying school supplies.

Douglas, 31, spent a week offering “pay what you can” haircuts and collecting donations of school supplies at Hair by Amy Leah at 274 Southland Drive Suite 102 in Lexington. When people did pay what they could for haircuts, Douglas took that money and used it to buy school supplies as well. She will now give the supplies to elementary schools around Fayette County.

“This is the first year I’ve done this, but I plan to do it every year,” Douglas said. “I've always been one of those people that wanted to give back to the community, and especially right now. I know it's really rough on everybody. I'm a single parent of three children. I get it. I can't do much, but I’ll do what I can.”

Lexington hairdresser Amy Leah Douglas, of Hair by Amy Leah on Southland Drive, talks about the items donated through her effort to collect school supplies for elementary school students in Fayette County. (Spectrum News 1/Brandon Roberts)

Douglas said people’s response to her effort has been good, with most of her regular clients making donations to make sure all children are “getting something back.” 

“It's the first year, so it didn't get the response I was hoping for,” she said. “But as I continue to do this it will be something that people just expect every year.” 

Many hairdressers offer free haircuts before the school year begins, but students also need school supplies, which prompted Douglas to include taking donations in her efforts.

“Kids are always going to need school supplies,” she said. “A lot of teachers have to spend money out of their own pockets to make sure their students have what they need. A pack of decent pencils is $3 and elementary school kids use a lot of paper at their age.”

Douglas said she called the elementary school in Fayette County and asked what supplies were needed most. As she received donations, she separated certain items into certain bins based upon the school’s needs to make them easier to deliver. School started Wednesday, Aug. 10, in Fayette County. 

Douglas will resume accepting donations of school supplies at the salon after the current items are delivered. Cash donations to be used for school supply purchases can be sent via PayPal to @adouglas603 or on CashApp to $amyleah814. Call 859-536-3254 with any questions.