For the eighth year running, Total Beauty Institute in Jacksonville opened its doors to the community for a back-to-school giveaway that sent hundreds of kids into the new school year feeling prepared and confident. This year's event served around 500 students, providing free backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, and food — all in one place, just days before classes resumed.
Organizers, including co-sponsors Reggie Gaffney and Reginald Jr., noted that demand has grown steadily over the years. To keep pace, they deliberately scaled up this year's operation. "When we end up with about four or five hundred kids, we'll always run out," Gaffney said. "So we even increased this year."
For many attending families, the free grooming services alone made a meaningful difference. As one parent put it, the cost of a fresh haircut before the first day of school can rival the price of new shoes or a new outfit — and every dollar saved elsewhere adds up. A caretaker attending the event noted that without community support like this, covering everything on the school supply list simply wouldn't be possible.
The event also carved out space to recognize the mothers and caregivers who make it all happen. Attendees received free eyelash extensions, eyebrow shaping, and a voucher to return for a complimentary facial. Tonia Bell-Gaffney, Director of Total Beauty Institute, explained the thinking simply: the moms are the ones responsible for keeping these families together, and they deserve to be taken care of too.
This story was originally reported by Action News Jax.
