FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Stefanie Frith

Sipping water from a Styrofoam cup, 10-year-old Raul Perez wiped

his forehead and collapsed in a chair at the reception desk at Luis Hair

Salon in Costa Mesa.

“I was holding signs out on [19th] Street, and they said ‘$10 for a

haircut,’ because we are raising money for the [El Salvador earthquake

victims] people,” said Raul, a Costa Mesa resident. “But it was too hot

out there.”

It was hot inside the hair salon too Sunday, as dozens of people

milled around, getting haircuts, setting up appointments and most of all,

helping to raise money for the El Rescate El Salvador fund, which will

help victims of the Jan. 13 earthquake. El Rescate (The Rescue), is a Los

Angeles-based nonprofit organization that attempts to help immigrants and

increase human rights through education and advocacy.

Salon owner Luis Salazar, 40, of Tustin, organized the event to honor

his friend Daniel Medina, who died at the end of December after living

with Salazar for nine years. He said the earthquake happened right after

his friend died, and he felt compelled to do something for others because

he shared in their pain.

Stylists who work at West 19th Street salons Fita’s Hair Fashions and

Marta Hair Salon-- owned by Salazar’s sister, Marta Berrera -- donated

their services along with Salazar’s other sister, Sandra Mendez.

Raul Martez, a national educator for Paul Mitchell, also was on hand

to cut hair.

West 19th Street restaurants, including El Toro Bravo Tortilleria and

Grajenal, as well as private volunteers donated food.

Also, outside the hair salon, representatives from the Spanish radio

station Super Estrella, 103.1-FM blared out tunes and passed out

stickers.

“Luis is a friend, and we wanted to help him and those in El

Salvador,” Erlka Hernandez, 27, of Santa Ana, said as she waited for her

appointment. “We want to do something.”

Mendez said when she heard her brother was going to plan the

fund-raiser, she thought it was a great idea that she had to be a part

of.

“We truly want to pull out all the people as possible to come over

here and so far, so good,” the 30-year-old Costa Mesa resident said as

more people came through the door. “We are in total support, and we even

had the fund-raiser announced this morning in church here in Costa Mesa.”

Nineth Madrigal, 40, who came for a haircut with her daughter and

friends, said she wanted to support the earthquake victims as much as

possible, and if getting a haircut for $10 was going to help, then that

is what she would do.

“We hope this helps. We need to help. It’s important,” the Costa Mesa

resident said.

Early in the day Sunday, Salazar said he wasn’t sure how many people

would attend the event, which ran from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. By 2 p.m.,

though, almost 60 had signed up for haircuts and more than 100 were

expected by day’s. “It doesn’t matter how many people come,” Salazar

said. “What matters is just getting some help to El Salvador. Every

little bit helps.”