Barber shop cuts generous check

SAUGUS – The Saugus Military Families will have no trouble shipping special care packages to local soldiers stationed overseas this holiday season with help from Mike?s Barber Shop in Saugus.The barbers recently contributed 100 percent of the proceeds, tips and additional money raised on Veterans Days to the group, resulting in a donation of more than $1,700.Lynne Cardinale, Treasurer of the Saugus Military Families, said it?s the largest gift they?ve received.?You don?t know how much it means,” Cardinale said. “We send boxes every month to the soldiers that are deployed and it costs us $45 to $100 on postage alone. We rely on donations to fill and ship the boxes, and we?ve been lucky so far.”For the past six years, it?s been tradition for Mike?s Barber Shop owner Mike Prochilo, along with his two cousins, Mike and Paul Pulicari, to recognize our country?s servicemen and women by donating their total profits on Veterans Day to a veterans? organization.The Boston Vet Center received the contribution in previous years, but Mike?s Barber Shop decided to keep it local this year and the Saugus Military Families group was an ideal recipient.?Being a small business in Saugus, we wanted to support a Saugus group from the community,” Mike Pulicari said.He added that the town?s citizens and businesses have been very receptive to their annual fundraiser, and the customers kept the barbers busy all Veterans Day.Others stopped by Mike?s Barber Shop just to make a donation, like new Saugus business owner Mark Petrillo of Eastern Vapor, who contributed $200. The barbers have continuously raised more money each year with such help from the community.The Saugus Military Families holiday care packages will include things often taken for granted, like toiletries, hand cream, socks, hard candies, cookies and books. Cardinale said they?re going to look into adding something fun – like travel games and puzzles ?using the extra money.?This is really good timing. It means that we won?t have any difficulty getting through the Christmas season,” said Saugus Military Families President Diane Blengs. “We don?t have any major fundraisers planned, so it allows us to take our time to plan something.”The Saugus Military Families are seeking names and APO addresses of deployed soldiers who would like to receive packages and letters. Family members do not need to be part of the group. For more information, contact Joanne Rappa at the Town Clerk?s Office 781-231-4101 or [email protected]. Jessica Trufant can be reached at [email protected].