Forty girls received haircuts, trims, beauty-skin treatments, backpacks, school supplies, clothing and hygiene products – all free. Arise Chautauqua, a locally based non-for-profit organization which focuses on encouraging, empowering and equipping women, hosted its back to school extravaganza recently at its 218 W. Falconer St. location.

The organization’s founders, Jessica McKeever and Kayle Lindstrom, also believe that connection is a key-focal point to preventing abuse, exploitation and human trafficking.

“This is our second back to school event,” said Linstrom. “We had one last week, and we had 15 girls attend it.”

Lindstrom said this event had 12 girls who signed up for haircuts and styling, with the four, volunteer cosmetologists and stylists, who work at various salons around the county- and support the non-for-profits mission. The 12 girls were part of the larger group of 40 female attendees, who are preparing to return to school next week.

From back left, Shana Morton and Ella Woodis two cosmotolgist, provide haircuts and styling free of charge Thursday for two Arise Chautauqua program participants, whose names and faces are being withheld to protect their identity, at the organization’s Back to School event at 218 W. Falconer St. P-J photso by Christopher Blakeslee

For Shana Morton and Ella Woodis supporting this event was a no brainer.

“This is a good cause,” said Morton, a hair artist with Shear Style in Mayville. “Anything I can do to make a women or girl feel better about themselves is worth it,”

“Same here,” said Woodis, a stylist at Saint Elmo Spa at the Chautauqua Institution. “If I can help boost a person’s self-confidence it’s worth it.”

Additionally, two cosmetologists from Modern Expressions Salon and Spa, Bemus Point, donated their time, skills and energy to this worthy endeavor.

“This is for a great cause,” said stylist Grace Barton. “We’re here for these girls.”

Barton’s partner in crime and fellow Modern Expressions co-worker, Olivea Heslink echoed some of Barton’s sentiments.

“I heard about this from Grace,” said the 21-year-old, Fredonia native. “This is such a worthy cause, I’m happy to help out.”

According to the Arise Chautauqua Facebook page and guidestar.org – the organization believes in creating a place for girls to be encouraged, empowered, equipped, celebrated and loved. Additionally, the organization is a 501-C (3) charitable, tax-exempt, enterprise with a program designed to promote, educate and provide support services for women and girls; at-risk youth; children and youth or victims of crime and abuse.

However, the real story is the extremely thankful and happy 40 plus girls, who benefited from receiving school supplies, haircuts and everything else one could use to start the educational calendar year off on the right foot because of the kind and caring volunteers with Arise.

“I look so pretty,” said one 12-year old female participant who got a haircut, new school clothes, a backpack, hygiene products, pens, pencils, notebooks and new kickers to boot. “Money is so tight at our house, and when my mom found out about this it was like a prayer answered from heaven.”

For more information visit email hello@arisechautauqua.com or visit its Facebook page.