Albury's Lost and Found Barbers was founded with a mission to "wrap around" their local community.
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So after working with community centres and Boys to the Bush, co-owners Casey Lea and Sarah Watkins were eager to step in on behalf of a Melbourne not-for-profit unable to come to Wodonga for an event organised by Junction Support Services.
Forty young people will receive clothing packs from HoMie and hair cuts from Lost and Found in David Street, which is supporting costs.
Junction Support Services diversity and inclusions officer Savannah West contacted Lost and Found when HoMie became unavailable for the barbering.
"HoMie does VIP days once a month, where they shut down the Brunswick store and bring youth in with their case managers and make the day all about them," she said.
"It's about creating social connectedness and improving self-esteem.
"I'm a huge fan of HoMie and their work, So I reached out earlier this year, and said, 'Would you ever come regional? And they said, 'Yes!'
"It was going to happen at the Cube in June, but unfortunately with COVID, it couldn't happen."
Ms West knew of Lost and Found Barbers and reached out.
"It's a safe space, and these youth know they can come back and feel comfortable," she said.
"We've had some really awesome feedback from the young people about their clothing packs; one of them said, 'I haven't had new clothes in a while, this is amazing', and another was happy they had a hoodie to stay warm in Winter.
"Vulnerable young people ... often don't have the financial support, because of things that are well out of their control, such as family violence and mental health.
"So that's where we wanted to come in and be able to fill that gap."
Ms Lea said the team was humbled by Junction's request.
"Our youth are the foundation of our future generation, so if we can't give them the services, support and love that they need to be help them be good versions of themselves, what are we doing?" she said.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Lost and Found Barbers, was established in 2019 and recently moved from Kiewa Street to a new building on David Street.
"There is a story behind the name of 'Lost n Found' and we always wanted to be very community focused," Ms Lea said.
"Everyone that walks through our doors, they're our family, and if they come and sit in the chair and don't really want to talk - that's fine.
"But it's just nice for them to feel like they're a part of something and that we care about them."
