FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION - With a new school year just around the corner, kids of all ages are getting ready with new clothes, school supplies, and the latest hairstyle. But for some kids, getting the latest style is not always an option, but a local hairdresser continues to volunteer his time to make sure every student walks into the first day of class looking their best.
For the second year in a row, Cosimo Minnella, owner of Trenz Hair Studio and Nu Wave Hair and Design, along with staff and students, volunteered their time to families in Fort William First Nation to offer kids free hair cuts just before school.
“I think it’s a great initiative,” said parent, Cindy Bannon. “We really appreciate Trenz for the volunteers and what they’ve come and done for our kids. It’s great. It gives the kids an opportunity to feel good about themselves when they head back to the new school year. It gives them a positive start.”
Cuts for Kids began last year after Fort William First Nation recreation assistant, Marnie Greenwald, and her partner Tom, who regularly get their hair done at Trenz, spoke with Minnella about how kids in Fort William First Nation don’t always have the means to get their hair cut or styled.
After hearing that, Minnella took it upon himself to volunteer his time to offer free haircuts to kids.
“It means a lot. It means so much,” Greenwald said. “These little kids come here and they walk out with such big smiles and it makes their day. How many hairdressers do we have in this city and we have one committing their time volunteering and we are over the moon, we can’t even express how grateful we are to Cosimo.”
“Last year I did and this year I wanted to do it again and it’s just something to look forward to the kids going back to school so they can look nice and good with their hairstyles,” Minnella added. “Tom asked me if I was interested in helping out and I said sure, I would do it. And I do love doing kids hair and I do love my job very much.”
Last year more than 40 kids came out for a free haircut and this year the list was quickly filling up on Thursday.
For Grade 4 student, Georgia Upton and her sister, Brea, getting rid of all that summer hair is perfect for the upcoming school year.
“Because in the summertime, our hair gets really really sweaty, so we like to cut out hair and make it not as sweaty,” Georgia said.
“And because my hair gets in my face,” Brea added.
Minnella said he hopes to continue the Cuts for Kids next year because he loves to see the kids look their best for that first day of school. And all the kids who leave the chair leave with a smile on their face.
“I think it’s wonderful,” Bannon said. “It builds a good bond between our First Nation and our business across the river. I think it’s wonderful and Miigwetch for them for doing this.”
