MLK Day of Service: Hospice patients get beauty makeovers

LANCASTER – Florence Fowler smiled from ear to ear as she peered at her reflection in a handheld mirror.

“It’s a miracle!” the senior exclaimed.

Fowler was one of two terminally ill patients who received a beauty makeover Tuesday as part of Lancaster’s 6th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

The city of Lancaster partnered with ProCare Hospice to provide complimentary makeovers for patients, as well as caregivers, at the Casa Amore Residential Care Facility in east Lancaster.

“Because caregivers are so often neglected and they work so very very hard, we decided to do two hospice patients and two caregivers,” said Brandi Wheeler, director of marketing for ProCare Hospice.

Each makeover included a haircut, hairstyling, make-up and glamour photograph.

“Everyone needs love, especially in their golden years,” said Marsha Goins, who cut and curled the hair of the two hospice patients. Goins has donated her services to the project for the past four years.

Mobile hairstylist Sara Ochoa provided complimentary hairstyling for the two caregivers.

“I think it’s very important to give back to the community,” Ochoa said.

Once the women were groomed and pretty, they each sat for a glamour shot, taken by professional photographer Phillip Kocurek.

“I’m going to take these portraits back to my studio, retouch them a little bit to make them look like magazine covers, and then they get a complimentary 5X7 portrait,”  said Kocurek, who has volunteered his services on the project since its inception.

“I think it’s a good cause and it’s fun,” Kocurek continued. “It’s really nice just to see the expression on their faces once they see the finished product, the beautiful portrait of themselves.”

The beautiful portrait is an invaluable keepsake for family members, organizers said.

“We frame the photos and present it to hospice patients and their families, who just absolutely love it,” said Wheeler, adding that most hospice patients have a life expectancy of six months or less.

“We’re about dignity, quality of life and trying to make people’s dreams come true, because it’s very hard when you’re faced with a terminal illness,” Wheeler said. “We want to make it beautiful for them.”

Makeover services for Tuesday’s service project were donated by Marsha Goins of Marsha’s Chair Salon, Sara Ochoa of @Sara’s beauty salon, local make-up artist Tiffany Derosier, and Phillip Kocurek of Phillip’s Photography.

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