Event organiser Melissa Aitken, right, and volunteer Cheryl Burgess say this month's offer of free haircuts for those in need was their "craziest" event yet.

A whopping 500 people showed up at an Invercargill primary school for a free haircut and something to eat on Sunday.

The event's organiser said there was a huge need for haircuts and other services in the city, and she rallied her friends, family and local businesses to help out the community twice a year.

Melissa Aitken said she was told by a mother the day came at "the right time" this year for her and her family.

"She burst into tears ... she said 'we're starving'."

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The average Southland person did not realise how many people were living in poverty, homeless or struggling on a low income, Aitken said.

On Sunday, people were lining up before the doors had even opened, she said.

The hall of Fernworth Primary School was packed to the sides, with 14 of the city's best hairdressers at work.

The event put a "band aid" over the situation but didn't stop the cause, she said.

"What this does long-term, I don't know, but we just do it for the day."

The event has grown to include donated clothes, food, dental advice and even massages - all for free.

Aitken said each person who wanted a haircut was given a number, which allowed organisers to count the number of people through the door.

Her first event attracted 150 people, and the event in July last year attracted more than 200, she said.

"This is by far our biggest at 500 people."

People mostly came for the haircuts, she said.

"But there's other services as well, like the dentist; she just gives out advice."

Also on deck was a beauty therapist, doing eyebrows, and the firefighters were offering help to install people's smoke alarms, she said.

Instead of making a public invitation, Aitken said she made invitations for Nga Kete, Number 10, the Jubilee Budget Advisory Service and Work and Income for the case managers to give to clients.

Aitken said "the power of Facebook" allowed her to co-ordinate volunteers and donations.

This year, one person alone donated two banana boxes of mandarins, one box of kiwifruit, two large bags of sweets and four large bags of carrots for the event.

The region's hairdressers were asking to get involved, she said.

"Sometimes there's no words; it's just humbling and we leave it at that," she said.

"I just like helping people."

Volunteer Cheryl Burgess said she made 42 litres of pumpkin soup for the event.

"This, I think, has been our craziest one yet," she said.

"There are some really needy people out there. It's just great that we're not affiliated to any company and we're really proud of that.

"It's a group of people just wanting to do something good."