Adolescence can be a tough period in a child's life.  They're trying to wear the "right" clothes; making sure they don't seem un-cool (do kids use that expression these days?); wanting their hair to be up-to-date.

This time of life is even tougher for youngsters who have lost their hair due to health problems.  Last year Westhills Elementary School student Sophie Raffo used her creative talents to help young people dealing with this condition; she made bracelets in exchange for donations to benefit Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

Sophie's giving spirit prompted her classmates to also do a good deed for such children.  They, under Sophie's guidance, decided to collect donations for Wigs for Kids, another non-profit organization that provides custom-made hairpieces (from human hair) to children who have lost their hair, whether as a result of medical treatments, health conditions, or burn accidents.

Four WES classes (Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Burton, Mrs. Bowden, Mrs. Karby) joined forces to collect over $100 for Wigs for Kids.  The money will be used to make hairpieces, which can cost anywhere from $1,800 to $3,000.

Founded by celebrity hairstylist Jeffrey Paul, Wigs for Kids has been helping children "look themselves" since 1980.