Having a full head of hair is something many of us might take for granted. For others, like Jessica Strand, Contact Center Team Leader at the Austin Center, it's an opportunity to give to those in need.

In September, Jessica donated approximately 40 inches of hair to the Locks of Love organization based out of West Palm Beach, Fla. According to their website (www.locksoflove.org), Locks of Love is a public, non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. The children receive hair prostheses free of charge or on a sliding scale, based on financial need.

Jessica followed the lead of her husband Eric who has been donating his hair to the program since he first learned about it. "We are both blessed, and cursed, with very thick, fast-growing hair," explained Jessica. "Maintaining hair like ours is pretty much impossible without frequent trips to the salon. Who has that kind of time?"

Initially Jessica thought she wasn't eligible to donate her hair because it had been color treated several times in the past. However, she learned at the salon that even color-treated hair can be donated. "It was important to me as soon as I knew I could donate it because although I don't know a child that needs it personally, I understand how big an impact it could have on someone who really does," she said. "It's really such an easy thing to give to someone."

Jessica visited the Golden Tress Salon in Austin to cut her hair, two bundles - each 18-20 inches long. "It was kind of surreal and pretty awesome," she described. "It took me about a month to get my head around it being so short. They ended up cutting it from waist length to just below my ears."

Many thanks to Jessica for sharing her Locks of Love donation story.