People helping people.

CareCuts is the brainchild of Martha “Marti” LaRue Baker, owner of Salon LaRue. A Knoxville native, Marti has been a barber, stylist, and instructor for over 30 years. After joining Maxine Raines and the Lost Sheep Ministry, Marti’s dream to help those in need continued to grow, so she set out to help restore people’s dignity by cutting their hair and providing grooming services. From this dream, CareCuts was born and began serving the homeless community in April of 2016.

In the beginning, Marti secured volunteers from among her clientele and church family. When considering a location, her first call was to the school she attended to become a licensed barber in the Happy Holler area of Knoxville. Though the facility was more than a mile away from the area the homeless congregated, they still came in wheelchairs, on canes, and carrying their children. Unfortunately, this long-existing school closed its doors only four months into hosting CareCuts’ monthly mission event.