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Jul 19, 2023

Monday is going to be a big day for Kenny Martinez.

The 10-year-old recently moved with his family from Ohio to Reading. And on Monday, he’ll be starting a new school year at a new school.

Kenny is pretty excited about the idea.

“I’m going to make friends, I think,” he said.

He’s certainly poised to make a good first impression when he walks through the doors of Northwest Middle School. On Friday, he was one of hundreds of kids who got a chance to get a free haircut during a special back-to-school event.

“He actually really needed one,” Kenny’s mom, Norkelly Muniz, said with a laugh.

The event was hosted by state Rep. Manny Guzman and Mayor Eddie Moran as a way to make sure local students are ready to head back to school. Along with free haircuts, the event also included the handing out of 700 backpacks and stands manned by local social service organizations and agencies.

“It’s incredible to see,” Guzman said, looking out over a long line of students and parents waiting to enter the courtyard in the 600 block of Penn Street where the event was held. “It shows there is a need in the community for resources like this.

“When you provide the resources, the people show up.”

Guzman, who grew up in Reading, said he feels a special connection to the kids who attended the event.

“I see myself in a lot of these kids,” he said. “It wasn’t long ago that I was waiting in line for school supplies because my family couldn’t afford them.”

This was the second year the back-to-school event was held, and Guzman and Moran said they plan to continue it. It’s just too important to stop.

“It’s heartwarming, it’s emotional,” Moran said, taking a break from chatting with parents and high-fiving kids. “It’s emotional to see that what we do on a day-to-day basis is helping the youth. Seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces, it fills my heart.”

Moran said he is proud of the synergy the event creates, pointing out that the 10 barbers who were on hand and all of the representatives from different organizations and agencies were volunteering their time to help kids.

“These barbers, they could be at their barbershops making money, but they’re here helping,” he said.

And, the mayor said, that help is desperately needed.

“I know a lot of these families really need a helping hand,” he said. “I don’t think they would be standing in line for two hours if they didn’t.”

Moran said he also wanted the event to provide a sense of belonging and caring for the kids who attended.

“We want to give them a sense of hope,” he said. “We want to acknowledge that they’re important parts of our community. We want to provide hope and love”

That was certainly felt by many of those who took part in the event.

“This is a really nice thing they do for the kids,” Munoz said as she waited for her son, Kenny, to finish up his time in the barber’s chair. “And it helps a lot.”

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