Janell Thomas used to volunteer at a soup kitchen. She had a good job in the telecommunications field, earned a decent living and wanted to help folks less fortunate.

But that was before the economy took a tragic turn.

Now looking back, Thomas, in her mid-40’s, said she never could have dreamed what her future would hold.

She lost her job when her employer merged with other companies and started outsourcing work.

Left with $20,000 of college debt, Thomas struggled unsuccessfully to find a new job. She lived off of her 401k savings as long as she could.

“And now it’s gone,” she said of losing everything she had including her home. She currently resides at Willow House, a facility for homeless women that’s operated by the Light House shelter in Annapolis. “It’s been a blessing to have a place to stay in this transitional period.”

And that godsend continues to grow, she said.

On Monday, Thomas was at a hair salon in the basement of Willow House, where she got a free makeover to help her look and feel her best for a job fair she planned to attend this week.

“I think it’s a good demonstration of God’s grace,” Thomas said of the salon and its power to restore her self-confidence.

She feels hopeful that she’ll land a job and rebuild her life. “I know it’s a matter of time.”

That kind of newfound positive outlook is what inspired Rob Cradle to continue his mission of helping others despite his own challenges.

Cradle, 43, of Odenton, is managing director of Rob's Barbershop Community Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides grooming services for homeless men, women and children. 

He built and operates the salon at Light House as well as two others in the area. 

“It’s the look on their faces when I swing them around to the mirror,” Cradle said of a renewed spirit he sees in the reflection of his homeless clients. “Since I’ve never been in their shoes, I can help them carry some of the weight.”

He started the foundation about 10 years ago and grew it to include six sites, but that number has been cut in half due to the poor economy and difficulty to raise money. The three salons cost roughly $130,000 a year to operate.

Last year, the foundation provided over 6,000 free grooming services to homeless people.

“Eighty percent of my day is spent raising money,” Cradle said of working to keep the salons afloat. “But who loses if I do this?”

Shauni Logan, a hair stylist at the Light House salon who also works for the government at Fort George G. Meade, said she enjoys helping the homeless people feel better about themselves.

“It makes me appreciate what I have especially in this economy,” she said. 

To learn more about Rob's Barbershop Community Foundation, visit www.RBCF.com.

To learn more about Light House, visit www.annapolislighthouse.org.