Barber unites with Caines Productions to offer haircuts and school supplies to needy familiesBy Ceola WilsonA father of five who knows first hand what it costs to prepare children for school has decided to sponsor free haircuts for boys to give something back to the community.Michael Chamberlian of 5 Star Barber Shop, knows first hand what it’s like to struggle in hard times.Next Wednesday, children from the age of four right up to 18 years are invited to drop by for a clean haircut in a party like atmosphere.Back to school supplies will also be handed out.He joined forces with Caines Productions, led by twins Dwayne and Wayne Caines and their brothers.Married to a Bermudian, Mr Chamberlian moved to Bermuda nine years ago.In the current economic climate he decided it was time to help families struggling to make ends meet.“As a barber, Bermudians have supported me to the fullest so it’s my time to give something back,” said Mr Chamberlian.“What I and my four barbers can give is free haircuts. We’ll have schoolbags, school books, pencils, ice cream and other treats available all day.”Asked what he plans to do if there’s a line around the corner, he said he won’t mind at all.“If it takes me the whole night to cut, I’m not going to leave until the last haircut is done,” he said.“This is the first time and we’re going to have it every year, it’s my job now.”Growing up in St Andrew he said: “I know about hard times and roughness, when I was young I lived it.“Bermudians have supported me nicely, I love them and they love me, especially the little children, I’m a father too.“I have five children of my own from 18 years old right down to three.“I know what it’s like preparing your children for school, I have the experience there.“The one thing I can do is give a clean haircut and that’s what we’re going to do for children aged four right up to 18.”But there will be designs with haircuts because as a father he knows they are not allowed in school.“I know the schools don’t allow designs so we’re doing clean haircuts to fix them up nice,” said Mr Chamberlian.Digicel Bermuda CEO Wayne Caines said there’s no question when you look around the community there’s a lot of people in need of support.“We want all of our young men and women to feel as if that is the start of the next phase of their life.“One the things that keeps our young men grounded is a barber shop. It is the epicentre of the black male routine in black culture.“We thought it important to do an initiative that centred around the epicentre of our way of life and so we linked arms with this outlet and others.“We just started reaching out to people to say this is what we want to do and they just started randomly giving money. Men, white men, black men, so many different people just want to help.”Other initiatives in the works, including seminars that focus on key issues.“We plan to have seminars on how to deal with your child’s mind, how to raise boys, why are relationships struggling and other subjects, and there’s a talent show in the works for this fall.”There are no immediate plans to become a registered charity he said, all the proceeds raised will go to charity instead.“All we want to do is use our God-given gifts to bring our community together; this is the start. Digicel is giving out bags and note pads.“We want these young men to know that the community at large cares about them and give them a jump-start for the new school year.“We’re not eliminating our girls, this is an ongoing development. We want to start building initiatives to bring our country together.”“The next event will encompass our ladies and so we so we can’t see this as forgetting our girls, this is the first of many.”On Monday, Dwayne Caines put up a post on Facebook calling on residents to help.In just three days he received more than $1,500 in cash from people from all walks of life who wanted to pitch in.Touched by the significant outpouring of “people’s hard earned cash” he said the calls are still coming in.“I just got a call from Baptiste Builders Supplies, they joined in to donate supplies.“My brothers and I have been tremendously blessed growing up in Bermuda.“We went to White’s Island in the swimming programme, we went to Pembroke Youth Centre, we were the beneficiaries of scholarships and education awards.“A lot of people in our church and our community believed in us and we believe that it’s our duty to pass those blessings back on to the next generations.“We’ll make this a block party atmosphere with music, food and fun,” he said.“Donations are still welcomed and if anyone who wants to drop by to help out they too are more than welcome.”5 Star Barber Shop is located on King Street in Hamilton next to Trott’s Draperies. There’s free haircuts all day from 8am to 5pm.For more information or to make a donation, e-mail dwaynecaines@yahoo.com or call 717-1906.