Thursday, October 1, 2026
Trimz Barber Shop, on Guy Lombardo Avenue in Freeport, hosted its annual Cutz for EDU back-to-school giveaway event last Saturday, benefiting hundreds of children from across Long Island.
Donated composition and spiral notebooks, pens and pencils, erasers, pencil cases, pocket folders, child-safe scissors, glue sticks, rulers and other school supplies were given out to students in the barber shop’s parking lot. The event, which has had 22 renditions, was once a modest giveaway, but now draws over 1,000 children and their families from Freeport, Roosevelt and other communities.
Leon Levar Broughton, owner of Trimz, aims to ensure that every student has what he or she needs before the school year begins, and to head off the potential bullying of those who don’t have the same quality of clothes and supplies as their peers.
“I believe in helping people that don’t have a voice to have a voice,” Broughton, 49, told the Herald before Saturday’s giveaway. “When I was coming up, people used to bully people all the time. And as you get older, you realize that the form of bullying that was taking place was because of unfortunate circumstances, and the [student’s] parents just didn’t have the resources that those kids have.”
The barber shop has been a fixture in Freeport for 29 years, and its support of education has been recognized by area elected officials, some of whom have helped collect donations before the event.
On Saturday, Nassau County Legislator Scott Davis affirmed the need to ensure that all students have the chance to get the school year off to a positive start without worrying about their supplies.
“Back-to-school season is an exciting time, but it’s also a challenging one for families that are struggling to make ends meet,” Davis said, “especially as prices for fuel and daily essentials continue to soar.”
Other community leaders who supported the giveaway included Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy, State Sen. Siela Bynoe and County Legislator Debra Mulé. Broughton expressed his appreciation for their participation, saying, “If it wasn’t for them, we would not have had the light on this that we have on this event.”
In addition to classroom essentials, students were also treated to the services of Trimz’ barbers and stylists for free. Pairs of sneakers, 10 bicycles and baskets of food were also given away, and there were games and entertainment as well.
Broughton said that next year’s Cutz for EDU will be even more special, when the shop celebrates its 30th anniversary.
