BOZEMAN, Mont. - There are many ways to make a difference in someone’s life -- whether it’s lending a big hand or a little one.
One Belgrade barber’s dream: To make a difference across the country, one haircut at a time.
“I feel that a connection through a haircut is one of the most important things in life.”
Kyle Pemberton’s bag is his barbershop.
Which works -- he’s 100-percent mobile.
“I personally would have no problem living in a box right alongside the people that I’m helping, if I can help them,” said Pemberton.
And while you might think a haircut isn’t something to write home about -- not to Kyle and his wife, Jasmine.
It’s the opposite.
“Look good, feel good,” said Kyle. That’s what I always tell people.”
“He does what he can, individually, and as a community to help those people that just get overlooked,” said Jasmine.
Kyle’s haircuts come free of charge for those who, as small a favor it might be, never seem to get a helping hand in life.
A heart for charity that goes back decades with his family.
But his sights -- and scissors -- are set nationwide.
“We’re just taking kind of taking a leap of faith and believing in the kindness factor of humans,” Kyle.
Trading a home for a school bus, the Pembertons will give free haircuts to kids with special needs, veterans, and those without homes and beyond.
An expensive leap of faith -- but all heart.
“It’s been extremely overwhelming,” said Kyle. “We’ve got local companies that are reaching out to us and they want to help us.”
“The haircut is just an added thing,” he added. “I’m already going to be on the road, traveling with my family, giving back to charities so why not give haircuts along the way?”
Through a GoFundMe page and social media -- they hope to raise enough for the road.
Money or not -- Kyle won’t let it stop him.
“Money hasn’t given me any more happiness than people have,” Kyle said. “I find that you can get a lot farther in love than you can get on money.”
The first stop -- Boise..
Then -- the rest of the USA.
Kyle hopes to make a difference...one haircut at a time.
“Even a 25-year-old guy from Bozeman, Montana that’s essentially a nobody in the world can get out there and make a difference in peoples’ lives,” he said.
