While The Salvation Army offers basic food and shelter to the destitute, it’s not equipped to provide many of the other personal services necessary for people trying to get back on their feet. One of those needs, however, will be met for free Thursday, as students from P.J.’s College of Cosmetology give free haircuts to Salvation Army clients.

“They’re initially setting up to help the people that are homeless and the people who come to the soup kitchen,” said Cardine Harrison, social worker at The Salvation Army.

The offer of haircuts is a spinoff of the Community Connect program, coordinated by LifeSkills, that brought 30 vendors and professionals to The Salvation Army in February to provide various services and program information for those in need, he said.

That’s a gathering that The Salvation Army would like to hold annually, Harrison said. But for now, it’s just haircuts that will be added to The Salvation Army’s 54-bed homeless shelter and 125-seat soup kitchen, he said.

The soup kitchen serves from 11:30 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. P.J.’s students will be there Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Harrison said.

They’re returning every month; in May, the students gave 45 haircuts, he said.

Elnora Wade, director of P.J.’s College of Cosmetology, said she’s planning to bring six or seven students with their hair-cutting equipment each month, serving men and women alike.

“We’re just doing basic haircuts,” she said.

P.J’s got involved as one of the many groups participating in Community Connect, Wade said. But hair usually grows back, so she decided to return regularly.

“The students enjoyed it, and it gave them plenty of practice, so I just thought it would be nice to make it a continuing thing,” Wade said.

In tough economic times, however, The Salvation Army’s needs run far beyond haircuts. The agency is regularly giving out food boxes, and needs some supplies for those and shelter residents, Harrison said.

Canned goods are always needed, especially meat products, for the food boxes; shelter residents need shower shoes, and they’re completely out of men’s disposable razors, he said.

For more information on Salvation Army services or needs, call 843-3485 or visit www.salvationarmysouth.org/kt/bowlinggreen The Salvation Army office, soup kitchen and shelter are at 400 W. Main Ave.