Vouchers have been printed and are now available for The Big Cut, a Sunday, May 3 event offering free hair cuts to area unemployed persons and their families.

Vouchers can be picked up at Sugartree Ministries Center (Your Father’s Kitchen) at 180 E. Main St. in Wilmington, Community Action Program at 789 N. Nelson Ave., Wilmington, and Clinton County Homeless Shelters at 36 Gallup St. in Wilmington. One voucher is good for three people.

Carousel Beauty Colleges will be represented by three dozen or more cosmetology students, said owner and President Don Yearwood.

About 36 have signed up for the voluntary service project in recent days, with Yearwood anticipating “probably 50” students from the institution’s five greater Dayton facilities traveling May 3 to Wilmington High School to take part. Carousel Beauty Colleges may rent a bus to assist their students, some of whom attend the institution’s training facilities in Springfield and Middletown.

“Our students are very community-minded. We’re very excited to participate and help out in the down economy. We’re sensitive that appearance is important to confidence and for doing well in job interviews,” said Yearwood, noting he regarded The Big Cut as a special event in Carousel Beauty Colleges’ 50th-anniversary milestone this year.

Wilmington City Councilman Rob Jaehnig, who is facilitating the event, said organizers are still looking for more involvement from local stylists.

“We want as many local stylists from the county as possible. We would love to have them participate,” said Jaehnig. Licensed cosmetologists interested in volunteering should call Jaehnig at 937-728-6557 or e-mail him at rljaehnig@yahoo.com.

Already being held for a good cause — free hair cuts to the unemployed — The Big Cut also will have a way for those with hair to spare to give to a good cause: Locks of Love.

Local stylist Brenda Mahoning is heading up the Locks of Love aspect of The Big Cut. Persons willing to donate at least eight to 10 inches of healthy hair to Locks of Love are encouraged to do so, she said. The nonprofit Locks of Love organization makes wigs from the donated hair for financially disadvantaged children who suffer from long-term hair loss.

Mahoning and Jaehnig think the world record for most donated hair collections from one event is within reach. Their understanding is the current record is 47 collections. Mahoning, who’s been involved with Locks of Love for a decade, said she came close to 40 collections once on Make a Difference Day.

The Big Cut starts noon May 3 at the high school. Persons are asked to come with clean, freshly washed hair.

Waring Office Supplies printed the vouchers free of charge.