Donating hair to the BP Oil Spill clean up.Starting a Mermaid charity for it

[MermaidSarah]

Okay so I have this idea for a charity for cleaning up the BP oil spill.It's already in action but I want to challenge mermaids to cut off at least some of their hair to donate to the oil spill so the hair can clean the mess up.I'm hoping to grow my hair out til it touches my butt then cutting it to donate it to charity.I was thinking of calling it Mermaid Manes for Marine Mammals.Anybody want to help with this and set it up?



All the hair would be sent to http://matteroftrust.org/

This would mean anytime you get a hair trim or you're really getting a major cut done to your hair to bag it or put it in jar or whatever you want to use.Not sure how else to set this up but the ideas are up to you.I know if we got this going mermaids like ourselves would be soo proud to have come together to accomplish ridding oil in the waters off the gulf coast.This oil spill has been going on for about 2 years and it needs to end.

If anyone wants to know how to get involved personally what places to do create things with the hair is they have 2 options:They create hair mats

http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/05/oil-spill-hair-booms-made-of-pet-and-human-hair4.jpg

or they stuff nylon stockings with hair

http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/06/oil-spill-hair-booms-made-of-pet-and-human-hair1.jpg

[Mermaid Celissa]

This is a really unique cause. I'll try growing mine

[Morticia Mermaid]

Wow. Thats a really cool idea. I just got my hair cut last tuesday >.< got about 5" off

[Mermaid Annariea]

what do the mats or stockings do? how do they help?

[MermaidSarah]

Well the hair within them absorb oil just like our hair absorbs oil on a normal basis but we wash it.

I assume they throw the mats to collect the oil and retrieve them.

It would be nice if I had my license so I could drive down and help clean off some of the oiled animals there.

[Ashe]

That's very nice of you! thanks! Sadly, like Lexia i just got my hair cut. :( I'll make sure to grow it out again :)

[ryanwebs_01]

This is amazing! Job well done ladies and to those guys who helped too. It made me realized that sometimes it's not about money, it is something we have that can be very helpful too. Some of them used spill kits like what I saw on www.globalspill.com.a (http://www.globalspill.com.a)u, that is so great!

[SweeteSiren]

This is interesting, but if you're going to grow your hair long & then donate it, you might consider donating to Locks of Love instead. They use human hair to make wigs for pediatric cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy. (Their site is http://www.locksoflove.org/ )
The oil spill site also suggested that things like pet hair can be used for the booms, so that might be a better way to help them out.

[deepblue]

If you want to donate hair, Locks of Love is one but not the best choice. They sell a lot of the hair donated, they reject a lot of kids, and they charge families for the wigs. See here for why and some other hair donation charities who make wigs for children who've lost their hair, only do NOT charge them or their families. http://femaleintel.com/need-know-locks-love/ and http://www.girlsonthegrid.com/more-than-a-quick-trim-what-i-learned-when-i-donated-my-hair/ both have lots of links to alternatives and info about LoL being problematic.

However, I'll stop there- Mermaid Sarah started this thread to talk about the specific charity she did, so I don't want to derail the thread. The page she linked to also links to a lot more info about hair, fur and fleece donations for cleanups. http://matteroftrust.org/297/clean-wave-free-kits-for-schools and it looks like you register to donate through http://www.excessaccess.org/

It's a great idea, Sarah. I don't cut my hair, but it's a great idea. If I do in the future, I'll keep it in mind.

[SeaGlass Siren]

oh my god this is so genius!!