Bethel's 6th Grade Rapunzel Cuts Hair For Charity

Bethel CT

10 November, 2020

1:41 PM

Description

BETHEL, CT — An 11-year-old girl in Bethel has gotten a head start on philanthropy. Samantha Tamburri just donated her 13-inch-ponytail to Locks of Love, a charity that gifts custom-made hair prosthetics to disadvantaged children who have suffered hair loss as a result of medical conditions. It took her three years to grow it. Not only would she do it again, she said, she's already done it, again, and again. This was Samantha's third time donating her long locks to the charity. She's been at it since she was 5 years old. "I like helping people," she told Patch. Samantha described the process as "Super-easy: Just cut off your ponytail, put it in a bag and mail it out to Locks of Love. I think a lot of people should do it." The Florida-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit was founded in 1997 by a nurse who suffered from hair loss in her 20s, and whose daughter lost all her hair at age 4. Its mission is to "return a sense of self, confidence and normalcy to children," according to the charity's website. This might make sense to you, and it sure does to Samantha, but it took a while for the other kids in the 6th grade at Bethel Middle School to wrap their heads around the concept. "They were really shocked about how much I cut off," the big-hearted Rapunzel said. Eventually, some came around, and Samantha says her best friend is now thinking about following in her footsteps to the hair salon. When she does, Samantha is likely to recommend hair stylist Kristin at Muse in Danbury, who cut her hair for free, knowing it was intended as a donation for Locks of Love. Samantha said she was keen on getting the word out about the charity. That, she reasoned, would be making a difference locally, as well as making a difference in the life of a stranger somewhere else. Just as importantly, she has a plan. "Tell them they are helping other people," Samantha said. "So they can have a chance, too."