By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
I have done stories about the Locks of Love donations over the years and the last one I did was in October 2010 when Alexander Batcho Intermediate School teacher Robin Carver was donating her hair and was looking for girls to join her.
Originally I was going to do it, too, but when I was talking about it to my sister, she said that my 6-year-old niece also wanted to donate her hair. I decided not to do it that day in October but rather wait until the Christmas holidays when my sister was visiting New Jersey. The girls in October were trying to convince me, but I told them I would do it but wait until my niece was here.
I wasn’t going to do a story about it but people in town convinced me I should as this was something important so I decided to and it fits right into this week’s other stories of giving.
My hair grew a little more than in October and those who know me saw my long curls, the longest that I have ever had it in my life. I committed to the donation and made the appointment with Mary Tabbit at the Hair House International for the Wednesday before Christmas.
My sister, Diane Altonen, and her family arrived for the holidays here in New Jersey on Monday night. Amber, my niece was very excited to have her hair donated and could not wait until Wednesday.
On Wednesday, we went over to the Hair House International and Amber decided that I had to go first. I did and as Mary put the hair into a pony tail to cut it, I was a little nervous but I wanted to do it. Mary made the cut and I was able to see that about 12 inches were gone. I felt a lot lighter not having all the hair.
Now the styling began. Mary did a cut with longer hair in the front and shorter in the back and when I was finished, everyone loved it. They all said I looked better, a lot younger and to keep my hair this way now. I still had all the curls but now just shorter.
Amber was next and she was able to donate only 8 inches but that was OK with her. Again came the snip and the styling which she wanted to look like Mimi (me). Mary did the bob look for Amber and being that her hair is straight, her hair looked very cute. Both of us were done and Amber was amazed at the two ponytails that were going to be donated.
Amber said she did it because “People have cancer and they need the hair to make wigs.” When she returned home and to school, her friends and teacher said ‘Amber you got your haircut and everyone liked it’ As for Amber and her new look, “I love it.”
Mom Diane said that they were very proud of Amber for doing the donation.
”We are very proud of her. It was a big decision for a 6 year old to make and it was a very nice decision.” Diane also explained why Amber wanted to do it.
”Our neighbor Tara has cancer and she lost her hair. Amber asked what happened as she started wearing a wig. So we told her that people who have cancer sometimes the treatments make them lose their hair. Amber wanted to donate her hair so she kept growing it long over the summer, through the fall and into the winter and do it so wigs could be made.”
Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that helps children suffering from long-erm medical hair loss. Most of the recipients suffer from an autoimmune disorder called alopecia areata which causes the hair follicles to shut down. Locks of Love was incorporated in December 1997 and is based in Lake Worth, Florida.
At the Hair House International, the Locks of Love donations for just 2010 alone was over 100 ponytails.
”If anyone would like to come in, we do give a free hair cut for anybody who donates the 10 inches. It is a great thing for young girls especially coming around summertime that wants to donate hair and get a free hair cut,” Ms. Tabbit said.

