Brittany Gay displays the 12-inch ponytail she plans to donate to the Locks of Love organization. (Staff photo by Deborah Bennett) When Brittany Gay, a second grade teacher at Jenkins County Elementary School, decided to cut her long hair, she immediately knew that she wanted others to benefit from that decision.

"I have had long hair since first grade and just decided to make a gift of my hair to someone else," Gay said.

So, she went online, found the website for Locks of Love, discovered instructions on how to donate the 12-inch ponytail her hairstylist had snipped away and made plans to donate her hair.

Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 who are suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis, including cancer and alopecia. Donated hair must be at least 10 inches in length and must be bundled in a ponytail or braid. It must be bleach-free, although colored and permed hair are accepted.

Additional information may be found at www.locksoflove.org.