Wayne Teen Spearheads Intergenerational Effort: Makeovers For Senior Citizens

WAYNE, NJ — A Wayne Hills High School senior was recently honored for her outstanding work in leading a true intergenerational effort.

Local teen Julia Sandler is the founder of the Wayne Hills GlamourGals Chapter, and she was recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship for her efforts in combating elder isolation.

GlamourGals is a national nonprofit organization that encourages kids and teens to visit senior citizen homes and help the residents with makeovers. From make-up to manicures, senior citizens are given the full beauty treatment, and participating teens are able to give back to an often overlooked community.

Sandler said that she first started the chapter towards the end of her freshman year as an effort to boost her extracurricular resume while giving back to her community, but the program soon became much more to her than that.

“I’m a cheerleader, so I wanted to do something other than that that’s kind of different, that hasn’t already been done at my school,” Sandler told Patch. “I was so nervous when I hosted my first makeover, because I had never really led anything before. But once everyone started showing up, all the volunteers at the senior home, everyone was so excited, I was excited. Now, it just completely took off.”

Sandler said that GlamourGals is now one of the most popular clubs at Wayne Hills High School, and she has recruited about 180 volunteers since launching the chapter.

She shared that the senior citizens love being able to interact with the young volunteers, especially the folks who don’t get visitors very often. She added, “You can really see the smiles on their faces once you talk to them.”

Sandler shared a story of one particular senior, Adele, who really resonated with her.

“It was (Adele’s) 104th birthday, and her family had COVID, so she didn’t have any visitors,” she said. “That’s such a crazy birthday, a crazy milestone, and I was so happy that I was able to share it with her, and I know she was so happy as well.”

The senior citizens, of course, aren’t the only ones enjoying the makeovers. Sandler said that the volunteers are often overwhelmed with emotion when working at the centers.

“Everyone loves it, I’ve seen a bunch of the younger girls cry when they’re there because of how good it makes them feel,” Sandler said. “It makes me feel so happy that I’m able to provide something that makes them feel just as good as it makes me feel… That’s how I’ve kept my motivation for GlamourGals.”

As a result of her tireless efforts, Sandler was awarded the Glammy Leadership Scholarship on May 10 at the annual Glammy Scholarship Award Ceremony in New York City.

Sandler first began attending the ceremony in the early days of the Wayne Hills GlamourGals Chapter, and didn’t think she’d ever have what it takes to win the scholarship. Sure enough, two years and several make-overs later, Sandler was awarded the $1,000 scholarship.

Sandler will be continuing her education at the University of Delaware, studying Marine Biology. As for the Wayne Hills GlamourGals Chapter, she will be organizing elections next year to search for new chapter leaders.

“I’m really trying to make sure it’s set up, and it’s going to thrive even when I’m not there,” she said. “GlamourGals, me starting it, it’s kind of like my baby. It’s sad, me having to leave, but I know that it’s going to be in good hands.”

You can learn more about GlamourGals and Sandler’s role by watching this Good Morning America video.