READY FOR SCHOOL
Kids have opportunity to get free haircuts, supplies
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » At a young age, Kimberly Galvin Janelle learned a valuable lesson from her father, Neal, about how to treat others.
Neal died in 2015 at 82. Kimberly knew she wanted to honor her father and the way he lived his life.
“He inspired all of us that regardless of someone’s situation in life, you treat them with respect and courtesy,” said Galvin Janelle. “He always believed, as did my mom, that when you start the school year if you had a fresh haircut, a good pencil, and a pad of paper you could set the world on fire.”
She approached Henry Jenkins and Lamont Washington, who shared her father’s vision of giving back. Jenkins and Washington provided free backto-school haircuts for children.
At Tru Cutz Barbershop, on 45 Park Place, in September 2017, Jenkins and Washington cut over 150 children’s hair, while Kimberly handed out backpacks filled with the necessary school supplies.
This year, in addition to Kimberly’s donations, Tru Cutz Barbershop opened up a fundraiser on Facebook, which raised over $1,000. The money goes towards more supplies.
Monday through Wednesday, Tru Cutz will exclusively cut children’s hair without charge, while
Kimberly hands out backpacks filled with school supplies.
Jenkins grew up in Saratoga Springs, attending Caroline Street Elementary School, Maple Avenue Middle School and Saratoga Springs High School. Washington moved from New York City to the Jefferson Terrace area right before middle school. Jenkins is three years older than Washington, but the two quickly became friends. They shared similar experiences. They knew they wanted to give back after opening up Tru Cutz down the street from where they grew up.
“When I was in high school, I had to pay for my own school supplies, my own backpack,” said Washington. “That’s where we got a lot of the motivation. We didn’t realize how many other people had that same thing.”
From opening to close, four barbers at Tru Cutz Barbershop will cut hair.
“They’re all so into this. They’re so in it,” said Washington. “They’re so happy to do this. It’s an intoxicating feeling.”
The free cuts don’t end in September.
“We didn’t want to just give back once a year,” said Jenkins. “How could we give back throughout the year?”
Through Tru Cutz for Tru Grades, students who do well in school receive free haircuts. Twice a year, at mid-term and as school ends, Saratoga Springs City School District students can bring their report card demonstrating above a B average to have a free haircut.
Tru Cutz will post the child, with parent’s permission, on social media to show it pays to get good grades.
“They need to be noticed,” said Washington. “That’s what we want; we want them to be noticed for what they’re doing.”
Neal inspired her daughter. For Kimberly, she remembers being 10 years old with her family. Her father noticed a family that did not have enough money to purchase a pair of Chuck Taylor sneakers. Kimberly saw her father give the cashier money, instructing the cashier to tell the family they were the 100th person in the store, granting them a $50 gift card.
Kimberly remembers telling her father she felt bad for them, because they couldn’t afford the sneakers.
“He told me, ‘They have something much more valuable than sneakers; they have the love of a family,’” said Galvin Janelle.
The message stuck with her.
“If I can lend a hand and have a kid in a tough world start with a smile on a good day, I’m going to do it,” she said. “I’m going to do it for him, I’m going do to if for me and I’m going to do it for the kids and for the community, because I think it’s important.”