Kids get free haircuts during charity event

Rachel Godbout wasn’t able to get haircuts for her children before school started but she jumped at the chance when she heard of the free trim in support of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.

Godbout brought her nine-year-old-daughter Journey, eight-year-old-son Jaxon and two-year-old-son Jayce to the Curl Up ‘N’ Dye salon on Cumberland Street Saturday. The local salon offered free haircuts for children in the Thunder Bay Big Brothers Big Sisters programs.

Godbout said it’s difficult to organize her three children and often they don’t have time to get haircuts and definitely not at a salon.  When she heard of the free haircuts, she said it was great to have that opportunity.

“I think this is great,” Godbout said. “I didn’t get them haircuts for school but I heard about this and this is a prime opportunity. I love Jaxon’s hair. I just want to say thank you for letting us have the opportunity to get some haircuts and have a good time.”

Godbout’s two oldest children Journey and Jaxon both go to the Thunder Bay Big Brother Big Sister.

She said it helped her out to know that her children had a place to go after school and that someone was looking after them. When Journey and Jaxon come home, they always have a story to tell about how much fun they had, she said.

“It gives them more opportunities because I’m pretty busy,” Godbout said. “They get to go out and have fun.  The Big Brothers Big Sisters is definitely well worth it. It helps to create good friendships and the children get to experience a lot of fun things.”

Jennifer Bobrowich, owner of the salon, said she wanted to let more people know that she offered children’s’ haircuts and thought the best way to do it was to offer her services for free for two days.

She said she knows the importance of getting a good haircut.

“I’ve had my hair done so many times where I’ve left the salon crying,” Bobrowich said. “I wanted to put a bag over my head and I can’t stand that. I think with kids their hair is so important because their self-image is the number one thing to them.”

Jake Satten, president of Thunder Bay Big Brothers Big Sisters, said while he hoped to raise about $1,000 throughout September, the focus of the event was to allow children who wouldn’t be able to afford a haircut to get one for the start of the school year.

“The kids in our program don’t necessarily come from families with high income,” Satten said. “Now that it is back to school season we want to give them a head start and invite them down to the salon for free haircuts so they aren’t left behind.”

Children who aren’t in a program can still get a free haircut through a donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters or if their parent or guardian gets a haircut or colour added at the same time.