By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
Thirteen-year-old Manville resident Julie Pankowski got her hair cut last week, but it was not just an ordinary visit to the salon.
Julie, an eighth grader at Alexander Batcho Intermediate School, donated her shorn 12-inch lengths to the nonprofit Locks of Love, which makes it into wigs for kids who suffer hair loss.
”I wanted to give back to people who are less fortunate,” she said. “I knew about Lock of Love from some of my friends and one of my teachers who donated their hair.
”It makes me feel good because they will feel better about themselves,” she said. “It will help them feel more normal when the go out in public and people won’t be staring at them,” she said.
It took Julie about three years to grow her hair. She hadn’t had her hair cut since the fourth grade.
Her short and sassy look is great for Julie.
”It feels better because it is summer, it is hot and it is not always on my neck,” she said. “I like a new change every once in a while.”
Her mom, Donna Pankowski, said she was proud that Julie is such a giving child.
”I think that this is amazing that she did this to help other children that are less fortunate than she is,” she said.
Diane Sack from A Touch of Ambiance in Somerville cut Julie’s hair and has been cutting her hair since she was a year old. She said she was honored to do the haircut for Julie.
Julie plans to grow her hair long and, when she is a senior in high school, she plans to donate it again.
Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that helps children suffering from longterm 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 has a website at www.locksof love.org.
