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Brian Maxson of the Railway Barbershop is known for bringing creative flair and big ideas to our humble town, and his fundraiser for LIFE Food Pantry at Loveland’s Oktoberfest was no exception!

The Railway Barbershop hosted a Beard Competition in downtown Loveland during this year’s Oktoberfest festivities. Contestants went head-to-head in a bevy of categories including longest beard, best general beard, most creative beard, and best mustache. Not to be outdone, during the kids’ beard competition, children decorated their own (paper) beards and proudly displayed them on stage for a chance to win their own crocheted beard!

Winners in each category walked away with bragging rights, medals, and $30 gift cards to the Railway Barbershop. The Best in Show winner also received a t-shirt and a stein to commemorate their win. The biggest winner however was the LIFE Food Pantry who received all proceeds from the contest.

A huge thank you to Brian Maxson of the Railway Barbershop, emcee Katie Welsh of The Good Hair Society, Jason Myers of CLIX Consumer Lending, and all of our follicularly gifted competitors!

In July, Loveland suffered a major blow with the passing of David Miller, prolific publisher of Loveland Magazine. Widely memorialized, David’s family generously requested that LIFE Food Pantry be the recipient of donations in his memory.

While sad to lose such a strong proponent of the pantry, we were honored to be remembered.

In September, Loveland lost one of its brightest lights with the passing of Sarah Dmytryk. At only 41, Sarah was a wife, sister, daughter, and mother of two young children. She led a courageous life defined by compassion, excellence, and unwavering devotion to her family, career, and those around her.

When Sarah passed, she and her family requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to LIFE Food Pantry. Sarah’s final act only serves to reiterate the boundless love and care she exhibited to others throughout her life.

At LIFE Food Pantry, we celebrate the memory of those, like David Miller and Sarah Dmytryk, who exhibit sheer selflessness by helping our most vulnerable neighbors. Please join us in remembering and honoring those individuals and families who so graciously remember the LIFE Food Pantry.

LIFE Food Pantry’s 2025 Back to School event was a smashing success! This year, we equipped almost 300 students with the supplies needed to return to the classroom with confidence. 

LIFE’s Back to School Event provides students residing within the 45140 zip code with backpacks, supplies for their respective grades, full-size hygiene items, new socks and underwear, as well as a spirit wear item for Loveland students. In addition, we aid eligible caregivers with enrollment in the National School Free and Reduced Lunch Program, and help Loveland students sign up for the pantry’s Weekend Bag and Tiger Pantry program. 

Because so many districts have areas falling within 45140, LIFE Food Pantry not only helps Loveland students, but a portion of Kings, Little Miami, Goshen, and Sycamore students as well. It’s awe-inspiring to see the reach and impact our humble pantry has on the community. 

A huge debt of gratitude goes out to Open Table Church, The Works Pizza, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, St. Columban, and RP Diamond Printing and Embroidery for their help with this year’s event. We could not have done so much for so many without you!

The LIFE Pantry thanks The Butcher Block and all those who purchased raffle tickets for the quarter beef raffle.

Entrants purchased tickets for $25 each, all in hopes of winning the grand prize: a quarter cow worth more than $1500!

The Butcher Block raised an impressive $850 to enable LIFE Food Pantry to continue serving our neighbors in need! While the contest may be over, be sure to visit The Butcher Block for all your fresh meat needs.

Whether your beard is long, creative, crazy, or nonexistent, Railway Barber Shop hopes to see beard aficionados from all over the tri-state as they co-host the inaugural Oktoberfest Beard Competition!

The contest to determine the winning whiskers will take place at Loveland’s Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 13, at 4:00 on the Main Stage at Nisbet Park. 

Enter yourself or cheer on your bearded buddies! The fee to compete is only $5 or a can of Manwich Sloppy Joe Sauce, and registration will begin just prior to the event.

All proceeds will benefit LIFE Food Pantry and further the mission of helping our neighbors in need. Judges will be looking for the longest beard, the most creative beard — even their favorite kids’ (pretend) beard.

Winners will be crowned and bragging rights will be granted. Stay tuned for more details. Ditch that razor and start growing!