Chai Lifeline Canada and A Child’s Voice Foundation, charities that supply wigs for patients who lose their hair while undergoing medical treatment, report getting more donations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chai Lifeline Canada, based in Toronto, supports children with chronic long-term illnesses and their families across Canada both socially and financially.
The organization has about 25 free programs, including the hair program, which provides wigs for children in need.
Though the program has existed for a while donations increased significantly during the pandemic, said Orly Davis, a director of operations in Chai Lifeline Canada.
“Before COVID we would get you 10 to 15 bundles a week and we were happy with that,” she said. “And now our mail delivery person comes with a big bucket every day.”
Davis said now they are receiving 30 to 40 packages of hair daily.
The deliveries are coming mostly from Canada but there are also some from places overseas, including Taiwan, she said.
Davis said the surge in donations probably happened due to the closure of hair salons.
“So I guess people were already growing it [hair] and thought why not cut it and give it to a good cause, which is so kind,” she said.
Davis said while other charities use artificial hair for wigs, Chai Lifeline Canada only uses real human hair.
For hair donations length should be ideally 10 to 12 inches but it will take shorter hair for boys, she said.
Hair must be bundled in a ponytail or braid, cut, placed in a baggie, and then mailed to their organization, Davis said.
A Child’s Voice Foundation saw an increase in hair donations of about 20 per cent during the pandemic.
Dolores Esposito, executive director of A Child’s Voice Foundation, wrote in an e-mail that most of their inquiries start with “due to the pandemic I have not a haircut in months and would like to donate my hair.”
Davis from Chai Lifeline Canada said receiving wigs is crucial for the self-esteem and mental health of children.
“It’s especially hard for those in teenage age,” she said. “Their bodies already start changing naturally, and the last thing they want is oh my gosh, now my hair’s falling out too. It’s traumatizing for them.”
Davis said getting their long-awaited wigs helps children feel normal again and they are truly grateful for this.
“It’s very bittersweet because they don’t want to lose their hair, nobody wants to lose their hair,” she said. “But they’re appreciative, not all people that age can express themselves, but they’re definitely happy.”
Davis said Chai Lifeline is constantly looking for volunteers and welcomes financial donations.
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