Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
If a youngster can do it, so can a grownup.
That’s why Cascadia Postmaster Ruth Powers showed up at Rumors hair salon for a haircut. Seven-year-old Aidie Morgan inspired Powers when she told her she was going to donate her hair to Locks of Love.
“At first, I had really long hair, and Ruth had long hair too,” Aidie said. “We told her, and she said she shall do it too. She wanted to go ahead and do it too, and we wanted to get other people.
“She’s our post office lady. We’ve known her for three years.”
Aidie moved to the Foster area, on the border with Cascadia as far as the Postal Service is concerned, with her mother, Erika Morgan, and big sister, Arienne, 10, and little sister, Hailee.
“It’s been a long time since I got it cut,” Aidie said of her hair. “I thought I could donate it instead of throwing it in the trash.”
Locks of Love will use Aidie’s and Powers’ hair to make “a wig for people who don’t have hair,” for children in chemotherapy, for example, Aidie said. “I feel kind of good losing my hair. It’s not in the way all the time, and it also helps other people.”
This was the first time either Aidie or Powers had cut their hair significantly. Both have had long hair pretty much all their lives, and Aidie admitted she was nervous.
Powers said she was “inspired: to follow suit when Aidie told her she was going to donate her hair.
“I felt like she was making a sacrifice because it’s scary to have your hair cut,” Powers said as Teri Martell cut her hair on May 26.
Locks of Love is a good organization, she said, and she tried to get more people to donate their hair to it. However, she found no other takers.
“Aidie has a lot more courage than a lot of people up there,” Powers said. “I just think we’re so proud of her to donate her hair.”
Arienne’s hair was recently cut and not long.
“I don’t know if I could ever grow it out that long,” Arienne said.
“We’ll do it again in about five years, Aidie,” Powers told Aidie as Martell finished cutting.
Powers shook her head, looking in the mirror and grinning, “Oh, I like that.”
For more information about Locks of Love, visit locksoflove.org on the Web or contact Martell at Rumors, located on 15th Avenue next to Santiam Drug.
Martell said she has been giving free hair cuts for Locks of Love as long as she has been cutting hair.