Daniel González Collazo, a 20-year-old Cuban living in Las Vegas, wraps up his shift at the barbershop but doesn't pack away his tools. Instead, he loads a portable chair, a cape, and scissors into his car and heads out to provide free haircuts and distribute clothes, shoes, or food to the homeless.
"I always have my little chair, my cape, everything in the car. As soon as I finish, I head out," Daniel shared in an interview with Telemundo Las Vegas, which followed him during one of his outings as part of the "Sowing Hope" initiative.
Having moved to the United States from Cuba at the age of 13, Daniel started cutting hair at 16. He now works alongside his father and brother at Big Cut barbershop, continuing a family tradition.
"Carrying on this tradition is a source of pride for me," he declared.
His charitable work is deeply influenced by his experiences growing up in Cuba.
"I come from Cuba, a place of total hardship. If I had a little and you had none, I'd share that little, even if it was just a small gesture," he recalled.
Daniel believes helping others doesn't require vast resources.
"It comes from within. You don't need much to make a difference," he explained.
During his journey with Telemundo, he met Francis, a man who had been living on the streets with his father for two years and hadn't eaten in two days, according to the report.
Daniel gave him a haircut and provided him with clothes and food.
Beyond just a haircut, Daniel finds these moments often become opportunities to engage with those living on the streets.
"I love seeing them smile. When I cut their hair, they escape their world and start talking to me, sharing their stories," he described.
The story sparked a wave of recognition on social media, many from fellow Cubans praising both his generous acts and his Cuban roots.
"Daniel, you embody the best of Cuban kindness. Blessings, young man," one user commented. Another summed it up: "Cubans like this represent us," while several others called him a "Cuban pride."
An additional reaction came from someone claiming to know the family from Cuba. "He's from my neighborhood in Cuba, I saw him and his brother grow up. His father was my barber since I was a child," wrote Jorge Carlos Durán Fonseca, reinforcing the family story Daniel shared with Telemundo.
The report was released during Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15 to October 15, a time dedicated to acknowledging the contributions of the Latino community to American society.
Insights into Daniel González Collazo's Charitable Work
What motivates Daniel González Collazo to help the homeless?
Daniel is driven by his upbringing in Cuba, where sharing whatever little he had was customary. He believes that helping others doesn't require vast resources but comes from within.
How did Daniel González Collazo start his journey as a barber in the U.S.?
Daniel moved to the United States from Cuba at 13 and began working as a barber at 16. He now works with his family at Big Cut barbershop, continuing their family tradition.