Local girl donates hair to Locks of Love for third time

Saturday, January 21, 2012

The power of giving can be a wonderful thing. Fourteen-year-old Anna Beth Urban has done her fair share of giving back through volunteering for various organizations as well as donating her hair to Locks of Love three times within the past four-and-a-half years.

Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization, which provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children who are suffering from long-term medical hair loss. All children are under the age of 21 years old.

It is their goal to provide children with hairpieces in hopes of returning them to a somewhat normal-feeling childhood. Children are able to do most everything including swimming and showering with their hairpiece, as it forms a vacuum seal around their temples.

Fourteen-year-old Anna Beth Urban of Fillmore has donated her hair three times in the past four and a half years to Locks of Love. Above Urban gets her hair cut for the third time at Straight A Cuts. The hair goes toward making hairpieces for those age 21 and younger who are suffering from life-threating diseases.

Those wishing to donate must allow at least 10 inches of hair to be cut each time. Most of the time, the hair is put into a ponytail then cut above or below the hair tie.

Anna Beth had decided to donate her hair at the age of nine after hearing of people in her former church in Tennessee doing so.

"There was a mom and two daughters that donated their hair," said mother Anita Urban. "My daughter said, 'Well, I can do that.'"

Donating her hair to Locks of Love is not the only activity Anna Beth enjoys. After moving to Fillmore, Anna Beth has expanded her volunteer efforts over the years.

Currently she volunteers for such organizations in and around Putnam County such as Hope Haven, the Special Olympics and Together Educated Equestrians Master Barn. She also makes pillow case dresses for little girls in Haiti with her church, Cornerstone Baptist Church in Greencastle.

"She's done all that for the past two years," said Anita. "She just likes to help people."

Typically, it takes Anna Beth around two years between visits. Her hair grows so quickly that even after cutting off 10 inches each time it still remains at shoulder length.

"Hair is very important to girls and boys, but especially to girls," Anna Beth said.

Anna Beth has no plans to stop donating her hair each time it grows long enough. However, she chooses to do so on important dates in her life and her family's lives.

"The first time she donated her hair was on her grandpa's birthday," explained Anita. "She thought it was pretty neat getting it cut on her grandpa's birthday for the first time."

Each time Anna Beth donates it happens to fall on a special date. She is unsure when the next time she will donate, but knows it will be in the near future. For now, she just enjoys helping out those in need.

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  • AWwww what a precious story!

    -- Posted by Apollo13 on Sat, Jan 21, 2012, at 1:13 AM
  • The world certainly needs more loving and giving hearts like Anna Beth! May God bless you abundantly for helping others!

    (and Banner, keep stories like this coming! We need more good news than bad!!! Thanks!)

    -- Posted by John3:16 on Sun, Jan 22, 2012, at 11:24 AM
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