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By Natalie Bomke
Published January 20, 2025 8:00am CST
The Brief
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- Pastor Leonard Smith is uplifting local communities by offering free haircuts and support services at facilities like the Grand Regency Supportive Living Facility.
- Beyond grooming, he provides resources for GED programs, housing for the homeless, and addiction recovery.
- Residents and staff praise his selfless efforts, which bring both practical help and emotional empowerment.
CHICAGO – A young Chicago pastor is using a barber chair to lift spirits. He not only makes people look better, but he is helping them heal from the inside out.
“I always consider the haircut as a byproduct of what really happens in this chair,” said Pastor Leonard Smith.
He comes to the Grand Regency Supportive Living Facility in Jackson Park every other Sunday to cut hair, for free.
“Our motto is, it’s not how we meet you, but how we leave you,” he said.
What they’re saying:
“They’re all on a fixed income, so money is pretty tight for them, so when someone comes and takes time out of their day to do a service to the community, I think it’s a blessing,” said the facility’s activity director Rena Jones.
The pastor travels, spending 12 hours a week volunteering his services at a variety of locations. Along with every free haircut, clients get resources on GED programs, housing for the homeless and addiction recovery.
