Trimz Barber Shop hosts 19th annual back-to-school giveaway, uniting Freeport community

Freeport village came together for the Trimz Barber Shop back-to-school giveaway on Aug. 24, sparking a day of excitement, generosity and unity at the 19th annual event.

Leon Broughton, owner of Trimz Barber Shop, at 20 Guy Lombardo Ave., hosted the giveaway with the help and support of many.

Many community leaders — including Nassau County legislators Seth Koslow and Debra Mulé — have supported the event, which has become a beloved tradition that ensures local students have the tools and confidence they need to start the school year on the right foot.

This year’s event saw an impressive turnout, with nearly 1,600 attendees, including close to 1,000 children who received essential school supplies, new sneakers and fresh haircuts — all free of charge to the kids and their families.

Broughton, who has been running the back-to-school event for nearly two decades, reflected on its origins, saying, “It originally started 19 years ago when I did something to help kids that were getting bullied, to not get bullied in school. We just took the initiative to help the parents out that needed it.”

His passion for giving back to the community has only grown stronger over the years, as he continues to expand the event to reach more children each year.

The event was packed with activities that kept the kids entertained all day long — from bouncy houses to game trucks, and even a special appearance by TT Torrez from Hot 97 as the event’s emcee.

Broughton also introduced a new mascot, “Bucky,” a red inflatable character carrying a dollar bill, an homage to the event’s humble beginnings when Broughton instituted a similar charitable program called “Cuts for a Buck.”

“Bucky is a reminder of how it all started, with $1 haircuts to raise money for scholarships,” Broughton, who is also a Freeport resident, said.

In addition to the free haircuts and school supplies, the event featured an array of community partners who contributed to its success.

Christopher McBride of the Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club was on hand to distribute supplies and connect with families.

“It was great to see the community come together like this,” McBride said. “Leon and his team have created a cornerstone event that not only provides for the children but also strengthens the community.”

The event also served as a platform for local organizations and businesses to give back. Sponsors included Heeling Soles, Inc. a New York based non-profit that seeks to eradicate poverty through the provision of shoes to those in need, and its founder Steve Muir; Glory House Recovery, Inc. a Hempstead organization dedicated help those seeking to recover from addiction, illness, and domestic abuse, and its CEO Terenna Williams; as well as support from Affinity by Molina Healthcare; Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, and many others. These partnerships were vital in providing everything from food and snacks to the sneakers and school supplies that the kids received.

Koslow, who played a significant role in organizing and promoting the event, expressed his gratitude for the community’s support.

“When you are struggling to make ends meet, back-to-school season can place tremendous strain upon a household’s budget,” he said.

“However, thanks to the generosity of Fifth District residents, this burden will be eased for dozens of deserving families in our community,” Koslow added.

Comfort Itoka, another member of the Rotary, emphasized the importance of the event as a replacement for National Night Out, which had been canceled earlier in the month due to inclement weather.

“The event replaced the National Night Out, where different organizations set up tables with supplies, and kids went from table to table to select whatever they needed,” Itoka said.

The spirit of giving was palpable throughout the day, as families left with not only the supplies they needed but also with a sense of a community looking out for them.

While this year’s giveaway was a success, Broughton said the aim is always to go one step further.

“The goals are never met,” he said. “We can always do more. We can always get bigger.”

With next year marking the 20th anniversary of Cutz for Edu, Broughton said he and his team are already planning to make it the biggest and best event yet.

“We have some new stuff that we’re going to introduce,” he said.

Of the community support the event received, Koslow said, “We are all so thankful to our partners and everyone who stepped up to help ensure every young person starts the new school year with the tools they need to excel.”