It looked as if there was a carnival at St. Albert Food Bank and Community Village Saturday, but in fact, the festival was a charity event in disguise as 40 youngsters got some new gear in time for the new school year.
“The kids got haircuts and backpacks and a new outfit for school,” said executive director Suzan Krecsy.
Families got much more than haircuts because this was a joint venture hosted not just by the Food Bank, but also by the local Salvation Army, KidSport, St. Albert Parents’ Place and St. Albert Family and Community Support Services (FCSS).
“It’s one-stop help,” said Cara Parenteau, who is an administrative assistant for FCSS, but came to the event Saturday as a volunteer with members of her church, Cornerstone Pentecostal Fellowship.
Parenteau explained that, in 2010, a similar haircutting event was held at Cornerstone Pentecostal. Members of her family, as well as students from a beauty college, styled the children’s hair.
But because of her FCSS work, she knew families often have difficulty finding help from different agencies and after a number of meetings, so the Gearing Up for the Grade event was merged with the Tools for Schools program supported by the United Way and the Salvation Army Church.
“It needed to be co-ordinated. This way, the people can see several agencies at once. They don’t get the runaround and they don’t need to keep retelling their story. It gives them help in a dignified way,” Parenteau said.
Most of the youngsters raced out of their family cars and made a beeline towards the balloon and cookie table. As they munched on goodies, the children were invited to choose two books, donated by the SHAVA Bookstore. Meanwhile, their parents visited the various tables, collecting information ranging from where they could get housing assistance to where they might get help from KidSport if their children want to play soccer or football.
Each child was given a bag with their name on it, which contained clothes that were given to them by the Salvation Army church.
“It’s a life-saver,” said a woman named Carol, who explained she has five children between the ages of four months and 13.
“My husband works. He tries, but after we pay rent, we only have $80 left. I cannot work because I have a baby, and because one of my boys needs surgery. But even if I did work, I couldn’t make enough to pay a babysitter. This is my only resource,” she said.
Inside, in the hair “salon,” parents chatted and got to know each other as their children got their hair cut by the volunteer stylists from Marvel Beauty College and Cornerstone Pentecostal.
There was no mirror, so the children couldn’t see themselves, but their parents helped them with ongoing commentaries and compliments.
“Holy smokes! You look pretty darned good,” one father said, and all the waiting parents echoed his comments and gave the child a little cheer.
Another little girl, proudly told her stylist, “I’m going to school. I’m almost six.”
Then she pleaded, “Don’t cut it too short!”
One of the fathers, reciting the old clichĂ©, said, “Just a little off the top, eh?”
But in a panicked voice, the child cried, “No! Not off the top! I want a ponytail!”
Everyone laughed gently and, of course, the stylist complied.
By the end of the day, more than 100 families were helped. Some 40 children got haircuts and others simply picked up the backpacks full school supplies, as well as juice boxes and breakfast bars.
“I’m so thankful. I don’t know what I’d do without this. Now my kids can go to school like everyone else,” said Carol.
