OLATHE, Kan. — An Olathe business owner who once received help when he was in need wants to pay it forward this holiday season.
Nate Rivera, who owns N8's Barbershop, gives some of the coolest haircuts in the business — from unique designs to images of Patrick Mahomes’ face. He also does haircuts for some members of the Kansas City Chiefs' defensive line.
His business is thriving, and he wants to return the favor and give back to the community.
Rivera has created a new fundraiser called “haircuts for turkeys” — but rest assured, no turkeys will be harmed in this project.
Instead, during the week of Nov. 19-23, anyone who brings in a turkey to N8’s Barbershop will receive a free haircut.
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the average Thanksgiving Day dinner for 10 people cost $48.90 last year, a 22-cent decrease from 2017. A 16-pound turkey cost $21.71, or $1.36 per pound, on average.
That one dinner is costly and not possible for some, including Rivera’s family when he was a teen.
"I had a kidney transplant around 16 years old," Rivera said.
Friends and even strangers stepped up to feed his family so they could focus on paying his medical bills.
"You can't express how thankful I was for people that were wanting to be part of helping others without anything in return," Rivera said.
Now, Rivera hopes the small gesture of a turkey can take away the holiday worry for others.
"You do go through hardships, and sometimes we just need a little boost or somebody to help," he said.
The barbershop plans to create Thanksgiving "baskets" for families in the community who need them.
The business is asking for the public’s help in choosing the families who receive baskets. It specifically wants to help single-parent households, low-income families, or those paying large medical bills or experiencing a recent trauma.
If you know of someone who would benefit from a Thanksgiving basket, contact the barbershop at n8sbarbershop@gmail.com or send the business a message on Facebook.
Families chosen for the baskets will receive them on Nov. 25, three days before Thanksgiving.
