Sharing is Caring for Putnam City, Hair Stylists

By Melissa Maynarich, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- There's a group in the metro that's been giving food, shoes and gifts to children for a quarter of a century, making a difference in the lives of 30,000 Oklahoma City kids.

"We are buying bikes and roller blades for our PC Care Share family that we've taken on this year. We have seven kids that lost their dad last year," hair stylist Kim Hughes said.

Putnam City Care Share is a private program dedicated to clothing and feeding needy children who go to Putnam City schools. It started 25 years ago by a woman named Penny Poe and really took off inside an Oklahoma City hair salon.

Salon owner Ed Londagin had Penny Poe as a client, and was moved by her dedication to buying kids new shoes.

"I had $112 in my account. All my bills were paid, but I had $112. I wrote her a check for $100. Penny took that $100 bill and bought 20 pairs of shoes," Londagin said.

Now hair stylists and their clients all over the Oklahoma City area pitch in money and time, especially during the holidays, and it's making a difference.

"It's come full circle now. There was a salon owner that I adopted children with one year and he said ‘When I was a kid, I was a PC share care kid.' He had received shoes and help," Londagin said.

The last three presidents have recognized PC Care Share volunteers. But these volunteers don't do it for the awards, they do it for the children, and because they want to give back.

"It's like one of the most heartwarming feelings to give to somebody in need that much, and make their Christmas nice," Hughes said.