Growing up is hard enough. Remember walking through the halls of your middle school and being self-conscious about how your hair was too frizzy, your smile was too weird, and your glasses were too dorky? Now imagine walking through that same hallway without any hair.

This is where Locks of Love comes in. The organization seeks to help children who otherwise might not be able to afford a wig for a medical condition that causes hair loss. Hair prosthetics usually go to children suffering from a condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure, and also to children suffering from cancer.

UMBC is hosting its fifth annual Hair Drive on Wednesday, May 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Locks of Love drives at UMBC are held on the first Wednesday of every May, and last year a record 71 people donated their hair.

"UMBC students volunteer as greeters, signing people in, and we always appreciate volunteer cameramen," Hasina said.

The minimum hair donation is six inches, the sales of which go toward money raised for the organization. Donations of ten inches or more become wigs for children.

Professional hair cutters take a day off work to come give donors free haircuts. The hair cutters braid the hair, measure and cut it. It takes about 15 minutes per person to donate.

Hasina Jamal, a Locks of Love coordinator and UMBC student, said: "We like to create a nice, friendly environment for hair donors. There will be plenty of chairs everywhere, so if you're free, feel free to stop by!"

Donors are encouraged to make an appointment prior to May 7, since the line can get long. To make an appointment, contact Hasina Jamal at ja4@umbc.edu. Locks of Love at UMBC is sponsored by the Artists for Social Change Club and was begun by Truc Nguyen in 2004.

For more information about Locks of Love, visit their website at http://www.locksoflove.org.