South Bend kicks off the new school year Tuesday, so students were busy Monday getting those back-to-school necessities, like notebooks, clothes, and haircuts.

But those back-to-school staples come with a cost, which is why some people around Michiana are pitching in to help.

It's the last step of summer: sitting down to get your hair styled before that first day of school, and many girls did just that at Reality Hair Concepts.

And with many looking for areas to cut cost, it doesn't hurt that these hair styles are free.

Across the street at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, it's the boys' turn. They also lined up for free haircuts Monday.

Others waited for notebooks and about 300 backpacks -- which were all gone by early afternoon.

"A lot of parents were angry because they weren't able to get the services they came for, but we only had a limited amount," explained Henry Davis Jr. of the South Bend Common Council.

But it's not just parents who foot the bill for back-to-school supplies.

Yvonne Kinney is a second grade teacher.

She spent about $100 of her own money just getting ready for school.

Regardless of the cost, teachers like Kinney are busy prepping for classes to start.

And students like Arsha Irby are getting their hair styled for the first time.

On Tuesday, many girls and boys will walk into school, ready to show off their hair and kick off the year.