Barbara Murphy at the Bowen Barber Shop is planning something special this season. She wants to combine giving with doing something she loves. And she loves cutting mohawks. For the next couple of weeks, Bowen Island's barber is giving free mohawks, she'll even throw in free colour gels, and all proceeds will go to the Bowen Island Food Bank.
Murphy has been working on the island for 11 years. Although she is commuting, she feels that she is part of the community. "I want to do something nice for Bowen," says Murphy. "And I don't get to give enough mohawks."
Noah Robichaud was the recipient of Murphy's last mohawk and his photo was featured on the front page of the Undercurrent. Murphy said, "That was a great mohawk. It was my best."
A mohawk typically costs $20 and Murphy says that people can donate money to get the mohawk for themselves or for someone else. They can also donate not to get a mohawk. Murphy is aware that some parents might be hesitant to take such a big step. She said, "They can talk to me and I can modify the mohawk." in the most common variety of mohawk, both sides of the head are shaved leaving a strip of noticeably longer hair in the centre but Murphy says that there is an option of getting a "temporary mohawk" with colours that wash out.
Even though the idea is less than a day old, there has already been an enthusiastic response and Murphy's food bank jar is filling up. She said, "People have already donated just because they heard about the idea." Murphy thinks it would be great if the new mayor and council as well as businesses on Bowen would choose to participate.
