Skip to main content

Retired Barber Gives Homeless People Haircuts In Exchange For Hugs


Although some of us refuse to believe it, we live in a mean, cutthroat world. Luckily there are still some genuine good Samaritans out there, and Anthony Cymerys is definitely one of them. For the last 25 years, the man known as Joe the Barber has been offering homeless people in Hartford, Connecticut haircuts in exchange for hugs. 
Anthony Cymerys started offering his services to those less fortunate in 1988, after hearing a sermon about the homeless. He had just retired and was only cutting hair for family, but those inspiring words he had heard in church made him decided he didn’t want the homeless looking like homeless anymore. So he prepared his tools, put them in the car and started driving around town looking for people in need of his services. In the beginning, he helped people in shelters and convalescent homes, then he cut hair in downtown YMCA for years, before moving to the carousel near Bushnell Park. Every Wednesday, the wooden benches on the Elm Street side of the park are packed with homeless people waiting for a relaxing haircut, shave and facial massage from the 82-year-old Joe.
As soon as he parks his 1996 Crown Victoria and connects his clippers to the car battery, Cymerys is assaulted with questions about who should be the first in his barber chair. He asks his “customers” about the desired haircut style, and starts clipping, trimming and shaving. After that, Joe splashes some rubbing alcohol on his hands and proceeds to massage face, ears, neck, throat and shoulders. All he asks in exchange is a nice big hug. ”It really is love. I love these guys.
That’s what it’s all about,” Anthony told the Associated Press. Giving haircuts may not seem like a big deal to a lot of people, but it’s actually very important. Homeless people have a hard time finding jobs because of the way the look, so Joe is really helping them out of a hairy situation in more ways than one.
Joe the Barber’s altruism has inspired others to help the homeless of Hartford. Ed Galler and Betty Magee, among others, wanted to help Joe out, so they started handing out home-cooked meals to people who fell on hard times. ”The first couple of times I came with Joe, so I felt safe,” Magee said. “Then after you’re here a couple of times, you realize it’s fine.”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Olajumoke Orisaguna Stuns In New Photos

Bread-seller turned model Olajumoke,who is currently shooting for her new reality show really looks amazing as she stuns in several outfits. Here are more photos below......
1 comment
Read more

Chris Brown taunted in jail over Rihanna beating

According to reports, other prisoners are giving C hris Brown hell in jail for attacking Rihanna From  Hollywood Life  “One inmate said in passing ‘you a b***h for hitting Rihanna,’” a source close to the situation exclusively reveals to HollywoodLife.com. Chris is doing his best not to listen to the banter, however, it does make him “extremely upset” when he hears such sentiments. “They be saying other stuff too, like ‘you ain’t no rapper, you’re a whack R&B singer,’” the source continues. “They’re in there trying to break him down.”
Post a Comment
Read more

The reason behind Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez split

  Last week rumors spread that  Halle Berry  and third husband actor Olivier Martinez may be headed for divorce. And now there are reports that the reason behind the split is Halle and Olivier Martinez' 6 month old son... From  Star Magazine Friends say that the duo are leading increasingly separate lives because they can’t stop fighting. “They have had some extremely vicious arguments, and every small thing is causing issues,” a source says. “Olivier thinks Halle is spending too much time working and trying to lose weight and not enough time on their baby. Halle is tired of Olivier telling her what to do. Both of them are very hot tempered and stubborn.
Post a Comment
Read more