Back to School: Bronson Barbershop rallies to support families for the new school year

BRONSON, Fla. (WCJB) - Although this weekend marks the final stretch of summer for local families before the school year officially begins next week, the spirit of community is alive and thriving. In Bronson, one local business owner saw the transition back to the classroom as the perfect opportunity to lift up neighbors and ensure no child is left behind.

Pink Standridge, owner of the Bronson Barbershop, launched a heartfelt community initiative this weekend alongside her loyal sidekick. Driven by a deep sense of local need, Standridge and her team transformed the barbershop into a bustling hub of support, providing both essential school supplies and fresh haircuts to local children.

“I made it my mission this year to make sure no kid goes without,” Standridge said. “We have kids here in Bronson who need just as much help as anywhere and everywhere else. But they get forgotten. They get kind of slipped through the crack.”

Standridge feels the close-knit Bronson community has historically been underserved, and she was determined to change that narrative. She shared that her passion for service is a family legacy, passed down from her parents at a very young age.

“My mother had a daycare,” Standridge recalled. “Kids were her passion, with my mom and dad’s. And so we had set out to make it our passion also.”

The Bronson Barbershop event was designed to cover all the bases for students preparing for their first day. From sturdy backpacks to clean fades, the goal was simple: confidence and readiness.

“No kid goes to school without a backpack. No kid is going to school without a haircut,” Standridge emphasized. “Every child deserves a fresh haircut, a backpack for the first day of school, and that was our goal.”

The grassroots initiative left a lasting impression on local parents, who expressed deep gratitude for the support in an area where resources can sometimes be scarce.

“It’s a good thing because you don’t get that a lot around here,” said Brittany Stacy, a local parent who attended the event. “And like she said, especially Bronson, you know, a small town.”

The day’s festivities—which included fresh haircuts, treats, and essential school kits—were widely celebrated by everyone in attendance. In a small town like Bronson, this weekend proved that a simple haircut and a helping hand can make all the difference for the year ahead.

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