Haircuts for Community Living Center Veterans

For Emmanuel Lopez, cutting hair is a way to connect with Veterans and give back to those who served. “Manny” has been providing haircuts the past six months to Veterans living in the Wilmington VA Community Living Center.

“Manny” shaves Veteran Charles Coover’s beard.

The idea started when Pat Clark, Wilmington VA volunteer and member of Elks Lodge 2281, thought the Veterans could use some more pampering. Clark reached out to his Elks Lodge and spoke with the Veterans Canteen Service and Center for Development and Civic Engagement to determine how they could partner up and offer free haircuts.

“The Elks Lodge agreed to pay for the haircuts and the medical center schedules the barber to come in,” Clark said. “Manny does the haircuts right here in the hospital. It’s a great program for the Veterans.”

“Fun to meet them and hear their stories.”

Clark says the goal is to ensure Veterans have everything they need and that they’re treated with respect and dignity. Lopez says he enjoys getting to know the Veterans and hearing their stories.

“I’ll talk to them and give them a good haircut. I like coming here. I like to give back and it’s fun for me to meet new people and get to know them and hear their stories,” he said.

“Great feeling to make the simplest things possible.”

Clark said that feedback from Veterans has been very positive and well received. “I always follow up with them afterward and have had nothing but positive comments about Manny and the service,” he said.

Haircuts for the Community Living Center Veterans are just part of the generosity Clark and his team at the Elks Lodge offer. Each are paid for out of a fund Clark created which they also use for birthday parties and other gatherings during the year.

“We sponsor all types of events here at Wilmington VA, and we provide Welcome Home kits if Veterans are moving from the hospital back to their home. It’s a great feeling to make the simplest things possible for Veterans,” he added.