LOWELL — Acting Superintendent Barry Golner and the Lowell Police Department are grateful to share that a city barbershop — Golden Cuts — provided free back-to-school haircuts for Lowell youth who are part of the Lowell Police Youth Services (LPYS) Boxing Program.
Iglesia Bethesda Internacional, a church on Boston Road in Billerica, also provided backpacks full of school supplies to the approximately 18 students who got their hair cut.
The LPYS Boxing Program is open to any Lowell youth between the ages of 10 and 18. Club members meet several times per week to train at the program’s new facility on Central Street, which was opened thanks to support from the Officer Sean A. Collier Memorial Fund and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Shannon Community Safety Initiative program.
Golden Cuts is owned and operated by Lisie Reyes and her son Yaveht Adorno, who have been in business in Lowell since 2016. The family opened a new, larger barbershop at 210-212 Middlesex Street last year, and wanted to give back to the city that has enabled their business to grow.
“We wanted to say ‘thank you’ to the community and show some love,” said Adorno. “We are here because of how the community has treated us.”
The barbershop offered to provide free haircuts after hearing that students in the boxing program wanted to know where Officer Dominic Lessieur — a former Golden Gloves champion — got his hair cut. Officer Lessieur is a longtime customer of Golden Cuts.
Adorno also noted the importance of a haircut for students who are heading back into the social environment of school.
“When school is coming, a haircut can change both your mood and your confidence,” Adorno said.
Building confidence among students is one of the goals of the boxing program and other programming offered by LPYS, which seeks to create opportunities for all city youth to participate in free after school activities, athletics, and other ventures that emphasize health and wellness, while also experiencing positive interactions with police officers.
Pastor Eric Diaz, of Iglesia Bethesda, said his church got involved after Lisie Reyes suggested forming a partnership to help Lowell youth. Pastor Diaz said he jumped at the opportunity because while his church prefers to provide acts of charity without recognition, he wants local residents to know the church is willing to offer assistance and services with no strings attached.
“We simply offer the love God explains in the Bible to anyone willing to accept it,” Pastor Diaz said. “Love comes in very different shapes, and in this instance, it came in the shape of a bookbag.”
The Lowell Police Youth Services Boxing Program is free for city residents ages 10 to 18. The club’s gym is open Monday through Thursday, with classes at 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
For more information on joining the Youth Boxing Club, email: LPDYouthServices@lowellma.gov.
About the Lowell Police Youth Services Program
The Lowell Police Youth Services Program seeks to create opportunities for all city youth to participate in free after school activities, athletics, and other ventures that emphasize health and wellness, while also experiencing positive interactions with police officers. The Lowell Police Youth Services Program is open to partnering with all community stakeholders. Stay tuned in the coming weeks and months for additional programming involving swimming and flag football.
For more information on the Lowell Police Youth Services Program, email: LPDYouthServices@lowellma.gov. To make a donation to the Lowell Police Youth Services Program via the Greater Lowell Community Foundation, click here.
To follow the Lowell Police Youth Services Program on Instagram, click here.
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