Okemos attorney Shane Goodale has always strived to help those in need.

During his third year at WMU Cooley Law School, he founded the Homeless Assistance and Prevention Project, a legal clinic that offered pro bono legal services to those in need at the Open Door Ministry (ODM) of Lansing for about four years. Though the clinic is no longer in operation, Shane has continued to give his time to the community.

One of his recent projects included providing free haircuts to the homeless at ODM. Initially, a friend of Shane’s, a licensed cosmetologist, gave free haircuts every month at the ODM. Then Shane had another idea. He approached two local businesses, Sbarro Pizza and Sera Bella Salon, about a public service event combining free food and free haircuts for the homeless. Sera Bella’s manager, Jenifer Harris, loved the idea, Sbarro Pizza agreed to donate the pizza, and the event became a reality. On June 16, 2015, from 10 a.m. to noon, ODM patrons were treated to free pizza, while a bus transported individuals to and from Sera Bella, where stylists provided free haircuts. Many bellies were full, and a total of 13 haircuts were provided. The salon also set up a donation box for anyone wishing to donate money or non-perishable food items to the shelter.

Shane said he hopes to continue to find innovative ways to help the patrons at the homeless shelter and hopes that others will be interested in collaborating with ODM.

Individuals and groups interested in doing so can contact Shane at shane@shanegoodale.com

—Eisha Vatsal, Robert Mathis, and Lynn Ingram contributed to this story.