Parents and caregivers formed a line outside of downtown Elizabethton’s Salon B with the hope of getting a free haircut from salon owner Bea Snyder on Monday morning.

“So far we’ve done about 60-65 haircuts,” Snyder said around noon Monday. “I expect to be here until about 9-10 p.m.”

Snyder also expects to extend the offer to the public again for another day this week. She said she would announce that date soon.

“We’ve had such a good turnout,” she said. “We don’t want to turn anybody away.”

Lindsay Walker brought three East Side Elementary students down to the salon for their free haircuts.

“I’m glad to see that there are people out there who are nice enough to do this for children,” Walker said.

While this is not the first time Snyder has offered the service, it was Walker’s first time participating.

“This was the first time I had ever heard of it,” Walker said. “From what she said they are the only ones who are doing this.”

Walker has yet to go back-to-school shopping, but she was thrilled to have this part of the process complete.

“This really helps out,” she said. “It saves a lot of money. It gets very expensive with backpacks, school supplies and clothes. I bless them for this.”

Snyder wasn’t alone in her attempt to assist families with their back-to-school costs. She enlisted the help of volunteer Sara Cole, who has four kids and understands how expensive haircuts can get for larger families.

“Bea is such a good lady,” Cole said. “If it wasn’t for me doing my kids’ hair we couldn’t afford it on top of everything the schools require.”

All of the students Cole met were grateful to have their hair cut for free. Cole even found some personal happiness in giving back to the community.

“It’s nice to be back out here doing this again,” she said.

Megan Lane was watching Cole cut her daughter Macie’s hair with thankfulness.

“Every little bit helps,” she said. “This is an extreme blessing for those of us who are struggling.”

Lane attributed her daughter’s happiness and confidence to Snyder’s willingness to provide haircutting services free of charge.

“She is really helping to take that extra burden off our shoulders,” Lane said. “This will make them feel good and look good. They get to begin a new school year with a fresh start.”