Hundreds get free haircuts, hot dogs and more in Ferguson

St Louis Post Dispatch ^ | 7-25-2015 | Jack Witthaus

[Second Amendment First]

FERGUSON • Tiahesia Palmer was checking out some of the free services, but her son wanted a haircut.

So the Ferguson resident signed up Isiah, 7, to get his head shaved at the haircut tent at Saturday’s “Day of Hope.” He took off his ballcap and sat silently while a woman with the Elaine Steven Beauty College cleaned up around his ears.

Palmer smiled. Wearing an “I-heart-FERG” T-shirt, she was happy that her community had attracted the event.

Hundreds attended the festivities at Forestwood Park in Ferguson to receive free goods and services. The city and about 40 local churches, other agencies and Convoy of Hope, a Springfield, Mo.-based organization, coordinated the event.

About 600 volunteers signed up to help. They distributed more than 1,000 pairs of shoes, 5,000 bags of groceries and 10,000 bottles of water. Peppy volunteers said, “Good morning,” and asked, “How are you?” as part of an effort to offer residents a stress-free day.

The family-friendly event follows a year of stress in Ferguson, following the fatal shooting Aug. 9 of Michael Brown Jr. by a police officer. Protesters continue to call for the resignation of Mayor James Knowles III after a recall effort failed in June. A new interim police chief was announced last week, after the city’s chief resigned in March in the wake of a scathing report by the Department of Justice.

With red-and-white striped tents, Saturday’s event had a carnival-like atmosphere. Music played while kids jumped in a bounce house and threw balls at jugs.

Attendees were treated to a variety of complimentary services, including giveaways, health screenings and job services. There was even a free lunch: hot dogs with pepper jack cheese, chips and a drink.

[Texas resident]

We have a 17 year old boy living with us.
He tells me stories of some of the real serious dummies he is in school with. They don’t see the urgency of getting an education and a skill before they graduate.
Life will be hard for those idiots.

[HLPhat]

>>I’m such a sucker. I spent 15 bucks on a haircut today.

This sucker works:

“Wahl Senior Vacuum Clipper, 32 Ounce”
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008AZST7I

[oh8eleven]

My haircuts cost $10. Everyone says I overpay.
No, I'd say you're underpaying, but it depends where you live. I pay $12 and thought that was dirt cheap.

[HLPhat]

>>More like a generation of, “I juz gon take yo $hit.”

Evidently those are the only rules learned from a parental XBox.

[Red in Blue PA]

They distributed more than 1,000 pairs of shoes, 5,000 bags of groceries and 10,000 bottles of water. Peppy volunteers said, “Good morning,” and asked, “How are you?” as part of an effort to offer residents a stress-free day.

When is the "stress free" day for the hard working taxpayers paying for this sh&% while working 2 or 3 jobs?

[Godzilla]

plenty of ignorant comments on this thread. Convoy of Hope is also an evangelical outreach tool of the Assemblies of God. Heaven forbid we try to get God into these people’s lives and effect the only change that will do them any good- a change from the inside. Yes, there are handouts provided - but gospel outreach is everywhere, which unsurprisingly is ignored by the local newsrag but uninformed others here.

[BradyLS]

Yeah, folks learn quick: Run riot. Get free stuff.

[VanDeKoik]

But at least (as far as I can tell) It’s being put on with private money and by the local churches, for what I hope is a positive reason, so maybe there is some good to come from it?

[Lurker]

My haircut costs the price of a Bic razor.

L

[WhirlwindAttack]

Imagine you are in a sieged fortress with lions outside. The only way to keep them from storming the walls and killing everyone in a feeding frenzy is to feed them every day. Day in day out. When you stop, they aren’t going to remember how nice you were. And while you’re feeding them, you still can’t go outside unprotected because they will kill you for the fun of it. It is their nature, it is their way.

Get rid of the lions. Problem solved.

[Gaffer]

Buh....buh.....but......”Lions’ lives matter!” :0)

[Gaffer]

I set my Wahl on 1/8” and letterrip all over. Takes about 5 minutes and can do it meself.

[Nea Wood]

A friend of mine raised her son that way. He never had to lift a finger to do a single chore. He didn't even have to walk a few feet to the stove to spoon himself up a second helping of dinner. He would scream for his mother, and she'd come running from another part of the house, pick up the little prince's plate, spoon him another helping, and place it before him. The only thing he was ever asked to do was his homework, and he'd scream and throw tantrums so bad, his parents would end up doing the homework FOR him...then half the time he'd have another tantrum because they didn't do it right!Now he's almost 30. He still lives at home with his now divorced mom. He hasn't worked in about 20 years, (couldn't keep the few jobs he tried.) He sleeps until about 1:00 p.m., goes to the gym, comes home, goes out and parties at night. Mommy pays for his food, his truck, his medical insurance, everything. He refuses to even try to get a job. He'll be living with his mom the rest of his life.

I'm not a parent, so maybe I just don't get it. What happens to some people when they have kids that they start thinking the child is their precious little prince or princess who must never be told "no"? They're creating monsters, and they don't even seem to see it.

[VanShuyten]

Haircuts.......
Such fond memories.

[Rodamala]

[unixfox]

Waddya you bet that a lot of them complained about not getting enough free stuff.

[dfwgator]

The local Barnes and Noble offered free books, but there were no takers.

[caww]

Let the good times roll!...FREEBY DAY!

More than 1,000 pairs of shoes were ready to be handed out

[caww]

Though a church outreach program...seems to me a lot of what they save will likely go toward the drugs that got them in the place they're in in the first place....hopefully they had tents offering that.

[caww]

This will be good til the next riot....we all know that