Before the gates opened, the line stretched down Tiger Stadium. Within the first hour, around 130 backpacks, 100 notebooks and other school supplies had been given out.
By 3 p.m. Friday, more than 200 local students had free school supplies and fresh haircuts. Alberto Isguerra, a 2017 Centralia High School graduate who organized the event, wanted to find a way to give back to his community.
“I feel like the more we can help everybody out, the easier it gets,” he said.
The first-year back-to-school event ran from noon to 6 p.m. at Tiger Stadium. By 3:30 p.m. Friday Isguerra, the owner of Toro’s Cuts in Centralia, had lost count of how many haircuts he’d given but estimated it was around 15.
But it wasn’t just him.
In addition to Isguerra, nearly 20 barbers donated their time Friday afternoon. A barber for almost two years, Isguerra said kids could pick whatever hairstyle they wanted.
The inspiration for the event?
“Just to give back, really,” Isguerra said.
Isguerra said it was also important that the Latino community had access to the supplies needed to start the school year off right and that “they’re taken care of, just like everybody else.”
The event included a station where students could get needed notebooks, pencil cases, binders and other supplies for the new school year, funded in part through community donations.
“It’s really cool when you see how many people have come out to show support,” he said.
Isguerra also attended the Olympia Barber College. His store, Toro’s Cuts at 308 N Pearl St. in Centralia, opened last year.
And while it was the first year, Isguerra said he didn’t want it to be the last.
“Hopefully, next year’s bigger,” he said.
The first day of school in the Centralia School District is Aug. 30. Students in grades 3 through 12 in Chehalis Sept. 5, while first and second graders start Sept. 6.
