Nationwide — Meet Darnell Wells, a 19-year-old barber who works at “The Shop” in Memphis, Tennessee. This summer, he took his skills to the streets, providing free haircuts for those who couldn’t make it to the barber shops.
Under the blazing Memphis sun, Wells set up a barber shop with a red lawn chair, his clippers, and a heart full of compassion. His mission: give free haircuts to the homeless.
“We were just trying to help as many people as we can. We didn’t know we were going to help that many people,” Wells told WREG. “It was only two people when we got there. I ended up cutting nine heads and had five more waiting. We ended up giving out at least 30 burgers.”
He was joined by Zac Sherrod, who came up with the idea of giving out burgers too. He graciously paid for the food himself, wanting to lend a hand beyond haircuts.
“He made a post on Facebook (asking) ‘Who wants to help me feed the homeless,’ and I actually followed up,” Sherrod said. “God laid it on his heart to go help people, and we feel like that’s what we were called to do at that time.”
This small act of kindness has grown into a viral sensation, garnering thousands of likes and shares on Facebook.
“We weren’t going to post it and publicize it at all, but God put it on my heart to post it. I hope it inspires somebody to go out and help somebody else,” Wells said.
Moreover, Wells said the interactions between him and his clients while doing their haircuts turned into meaningful conversations.
“We learned so much from them. They were giving us their life stories, and how they got into the predicament they’re in — giving us lessons,” Wells said.
Looking ahead, Wells aspires to extend his compassion to Memphis’ children.
“Sometimes it isn’t about how much you have, but sometimes it’s about how much you can give,” Wells said. “I’m trying to get to kids, so they know it’s people doing the right thing, and you can do something positive and help other people.”
“I was glad to be a part of that experience,” Sherrod added.
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