# Lincoln barber teams with nonprofit on diaper drive for struggling families **Published:** 2026-06-24T10:00:00.000Z **Source:** [Flatwater Free Press](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/cuts-for-a-cause-meet-the-lincoln-barber-trading-trims-for-diapers/) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/lincoln-barber-teams-with-nonprofit-on-diaper-drive-for-struggling-families LINCOLN, Neb. — Sam Dov is stacking boxes of diapers next to his barber chair, joking that the growing pile resembles a game of Jenga. Since mid-May, the barber at [Faded Barbershop](https://booksy.com/en-us/1084957_sam-dov-faded-barbershop_barber-shop_27837_lincoln) in north Lincoln has been offering customers two haircuts in exchange for $40 worth of diaper and baby wipe donations. Dov has collected approximately 50 boxes so far toward his goal of $10,000 worth of products by the end of June, according to [reporting from the Flatwater Free Press](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/cuts-for-a-cause-meet-the-lincoln-barber-trading-trims-for-diapers/). The initiative partners with [Lincoln Littles](https://lincolnlittles.org/about/), a nonprofit that distributes diapers and wipes to childcare providers and families across the city. The effort addresses mounting challenges families face in accessing affordable childcare in the capital city. "Everybody judged me at first," Dov said. "'You're giving two haircuts for the price of one. How's that work for you?' And it doesn't work for me. It doesn't have to work for me. It works for the community, though." [Lincoln Littles](https://lincolnlittles.org/) provides tuition assistance and support for early childhood programs in a region where [childcare costs range from $10,000 to $14,500 annually](https://lincolnlittles.org/little-details/) — more than the average cost of a year of public college tuition. [Nebraska ranks least affordable in the nation for a range of childcare types.](https://lincolnlittles.org/little-details/) Dov is a member of the Nebraska Early Childhood Collaborative's parent ambassador program, which trains parents to advocate for themselves and their communities. He also helped push for passage of state legislation that maintained childcare subsidies for Nebraska parents. Outside the barbershop, he offers free haircuts to autistic children and advocates for early childhood support through his community work. Despite his extensive efforts, Dov resists being labeled an activist. "He's not doing something because it's popular," said longtime friend Jess Parker. "He's not doing something because it's the current fad. He's doing it because he truly cares about his community." Dov grew up in Lincoln as the son of Vietnamese immigrant parents who considered barbershop visits an unnecessary expense. At 19, he was convicted of drug and firearm charges and spent several years incarcerated. He learned to cut hair in prison, teaching himself by practicing on fellow inmates. After his release on parole in 2021, Dov cycled through various jobs while continuing to cut hair informally. Eventually, he decided to pursue the profession full-time and graduated from the College of Hair Design in downtown Lincoln in 2023. Dov's collaboration with Lincoln Littles represents his broader vision of transforming the barbershop into a community hub offering support and resources. Anne Brandt, Lincoln Littles' executive director, praised Dov as "authentic and open," noting his willingness to discuss community challenges openly during their first meeting. Dov and Lincoln Littles are planning an additional community forum for parents to share their experiences and discuss childcare challenges. Brandt noted that Dov often hears fathers discussing childcare difficulties in his barbershop chair, making the barbershop a valuable venue for reaching parents the nonprofit might not otherwise access. The parent focus group is scheduled for June 28 at Faded Barbershop. The event begins at 3 p.m., with walk-ins welcome. ## Sources - [Flatwater Free Press](https://flatwaterfreepress.org/cuts-for-a-cause-meet-the-lincoln-barber-trading-trims-for-diapers/) - [Lincoln Littles official website with information about childcare costs and affordability in Lincoln](https://lincolnlittles.org/) - [Lincoln Littles detailed information on childcare costs and Nebraska affordability rankings](https://lincolnlittles.org/little-details/) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Flatwater Free Press, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://flatwaterfreepress.org/cuts-for-a-cause-meet-the-lincoln-barber-trading-trims-for-diapers/.