FAIRMONT — Lakyn Sathoff is compelled to help people going through a difficult time. While there are numerous charitable organizations that offer compassion and assistance to those in need, these groups tend to work on a national scale.

“They only want to do big things. I wasn’t able to localize it,” Sathoff said.

So the 27-year-old established her own charitable organization, Lakyn’s Care, which focuses on helping local residents.

When Sathoff bought the Hair Etc. salon in Fairmont two years ago, she intended to provide wigs for women and girls who had lost their hair due to chemotherapy or illness. She spent months trying to navigate the process through a national organization to fulfill the need.

“But it was so much work, and they only wanted to do big things,” she said. “I want to keep it in the Martin County area.”

Sathoff was undeterred. She started selling Hair Etc. T-shirts to raise funds to establish her own non-profit.

And then there was all the paperwork to attain a 501c3 non-profit status so that donations are tax-deductible.

“Sara Pierce was a huge help with all the paperwork,” Sathoff said. “When we started with it, that’s when the government was shut down. Then my family came together. People came together.”

She uses the slogan, “Detour your illness,” which presents numerous possibilities. Someone might need a gas card to drive back and forth for treatment. A spa day could provide a bit of brightness to a patient. Losing her hair can be devastating to a woman’s sense of worth, but Lakyn’s Care can help with a wig.

“Even something as simple as family pictures can make a difference,” Sathoff said.

Her own involvement goes beyond collecting funds. She will visit women in hospitals or at home and use her professional expertise to teach them how to handle thinning hair or hair growing back or even how to apply makeup to boost their confidence.

Sathoff also has maneuvered the organizational gauntlet to get in touch with professional sports teams, hoping to score a jersey or autographed ball that can be used as a gift or for a fundraiser.

“It’s really hard to get in contact with these professional teams, but I am adamant. I know how important it is,” Sathoff said.

She understands that some people in need are reluctant to have a fundraiser or public event.

“That’s OK. I can go to their house and meet. It doesn’t have to be publicly announced,” she said.

Lakyn’s Care has generated a mix of emotions for its founder.

“It’s devastating to see these things. Sometimes I just sit in my car and cry a little, but I want to help everybody. It’s the least I can do,” she said.

People can donate to Lakyn’s Care at Profinium or at Hair Etc., 214 N. Park St. The phone number is (507) 238-9662. Or follow the story on her Facebook page, Lakyn’s Care.