Free haircuts, backpacks offered as school supply costs surge

TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — School supply prices have surged nearly 8% compared to 2025, and local organizations and businesses in Southern Arizona are stepping up to help families prepare for the new school year.

Deejays Against Hunger and Brotherz Barber Shop offered free haircuts and backpacks to kids Sunday afternoon. Barbers volunteered their time, serving more than 100 children at the shop.

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He loves giving back to his community and including others, which is why he asked Brotherz Barber Shop to partner up. Jorge Sierra, the owner of the shop, even added some help bringing in barber students. One of them is his very own little brother, also named Jorge Sierra.

"It makes me happy to give back to the community, give back to the kids you know? They go to school looking fresh, looking fly," Sierra, the student barber said.

The event also brought relief to parents like Myrenda Morgan, feeling the financial pressure of back-to-school season.

"It helps because they offer school supplies and that's been a struggle because I just finished college and now I'm on my extern, so money's been a little tight," Morgan said.

The Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation (TCF) shared

data with Scripps News outlining the cost increases families may face. Among the sharpest increases: lunch boxes are up $4, one-subject notebooks are up 92 cents, and notebook paper is up 18 cents. School lunch items have also increased about 11% over the past year.

Julie Margetta Morgan, president of the Century Foundation, said:

"By our estimates that means the typical family's gonna pay about $4,000 for school supplies and lunches in this school year."

According to the Groundwork/TCF, the culprit: tariffs. Many of the products are manufactured overseas and the higher prices are passed onto parents.

In the analysis, "Newell Brands, the company behind familiar classroom products, including Sharpie, Paper Mate, Expo markers, and Elmer’s glue, offers a clear example of how tariffs are feeding into consumer prices. The company raised prices repeatedly in 2025 as it faced $174 million in tariff costs and expects tariffs to cost another $130 million in 2026."

Grandparent Kellie Osborn summed up the frustration many families are feeling.

"The prices are ridiculous," Osborn said.

Many Southern Arizona school districts are set to welcome students back starting this week.

DJ Jahmar says his next free event will be Trunk-or-Treat at the Bargain Warehouse on Old Nogales Highway on October 29. He said last year about 1,000 kids participated and is hoping for even more to come out this year.

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