AmeriGas Teams Up with Local Barber for Back to School

Jerome Bremby & Luke Lewis

AmeriGas Teams Up with Local Barber for Back to School

Fort Pierce, Fl. Since a youngster in Junior High School, Darin “Slate” Slater, 44, of Fort Pierce, has been cutting hair. Slate, as he is known in the community, turned his passion into a business and for the past 26 years has been a licensed Master Barber at Slate’s Barbershop in Fort Pierce, Fla. The once small array of friends and family has now turned into 100’s of loyal customers. For the past 4 years, Slate has been paying it forward with his Annual Back to School Cut-A-Thon.

On Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, Slate along with friends Jerome Bremby and Gary Grismley, both of Fort Pierce, held the 4^th Annual Slate Barbershop Back to School Cut-A-Thon.This year’s event featured free food, drinks and free school supplies. Plus, every hour from 8 a.m. to midnight, Slate gave away a free haircut.

Gary Robinson, 8, Getting ready for back to school

In asking why he began this event in 2011, Slate stated, “I have customers who are single parents that are faithful in bringing their sons in for haircuts throughout the year. Back to school is a big expense especially when you have 3 sometimes 6 boys needing haircuts at the same time. This is our way of giving back and saying Thank You!”

This year’s sponsor of the free hourly haircuts was AmeriGas Propane. Luke Lewis, AmeriGas Area Sales Manager for area 20, said they got Involved because, “When it comes to giving, it’s not always about receiving something back or being recognized. There are people out there with real needs, and that‘s where AmeriGas wants to concentrate our efforts of being good stewards in the community.” In St. Lucie County reports show that over 51% of the students receive free or reduced lunch. “There is a big need to assist families when and where we can,” added Lewis.

(left to right) Grismley, Slate, Bremby

The 4^th Annual Slate Barbershop Back to School Cut-A-Thon began at 5:30 a.m., on Aug. 15. During the Cut-A-Thon, Slate completed over 80 haircuts while his childhood friends Bremby and Grismley worked the grill, gave out school supplies and mentored knowledge. In addition, throughout the year all students who make the Honor Roll receive free haircuts from Slates Barbershop. Slate summed it up by saying, “I have many customers who have been coming to me for 3 generations. When the community is loyal to you, giving back is easy.”