Young Chiang Mai barbers raise funds to help elderly homeless woman

The shop is organizing haircuts to raise funds to help the 74-year-old woman, who lives in a makeshift shelter beside a polluted canal on Soi Muen Dam Phra Kod in Muang district.

Supaporn Kachornma, 28, who owns King Ha Cut Barber Street shop, said she spotted the old woman pushing a cart to collect recyclable garbage to sell and bought her food and drink.
After failing to see the woman for four days, Supaporn drove around looking for her and found that she is living in a run-down shelter with only canvas as a roof.
Supaporn then decided to have the hairdressers in her shop organise charity cuts with the money being used to buy rice, dried foods and other necessities for the old woman. She said many patrons came to have their hair cut and also donated to help the old woman, who has been named as Boonthawee Sukkasem.
Supaporn said she would like the authorities to step in to help the old woman, who lives alone and was sometimes forced to give money to drug addicts.

The Nation visited the old woman on Wednesday and determined that “home” is a makeshift shelter next to a deserted building and has no toilet, running water or electricity.
The woman said she has to depend on her neighbours for water supply and the use of a toilet.