SEBRING Hair loss? They've got it covered

The Turban Project women range in age from 74 to 'past 90.'
By WILLIAM K. ALCORN
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
SEBRING -- "Made For You With Our Love by the Ladies of the Turban Project" is on the label.
Helping women who have lost their hair because of chemotherapy treatment for cancer feel better about themselves is in their hearts.
The Turban Project, a venture of several women who live at Copeland Oaks-Randall Medical Center Retirement Community, has provided some 200 head covers for women who lost their hair because of chemotherapy.
The project was started four years ago by Maxine Vincent when she learned about three women who had lost their hair because of chemotherapy being charged $12 to $14 for turbans.
"I thought it was unjust that cancer victims had to pay for these simple head coverings," she said.
"I found out you could make the turbans for about $1 worth of material. I felt we could help them and I put out the word for volunteers," said Vincent, a retired elementary school teacher from United Local schools in Hanoverton.
Her call to arms, in this case to sewing machines, resulted in the formation of a small corps of women who make up the Turban Project, now ranging in age from Vincent's 74 to Gladys Strawn, formerly of Damascus, who tells people she is "past 90 and her sewing machine is always open."
Work in homes
The women, at least one of whom is a cancer survivor herself, work individually in their homes and meet on the second Wednesday of each month to see what they have made and what new requests for head coverings have come in.
They supply head coverings to Salem Community Hospital, other Copeland Oaks residents, staff and friends and family, and anyone else who asks -- all free.
Right now, said Vincent, formerly of Salem, a good supply of head coverings is available.
Anyone who wants one of the Turban Project head coverings can call Copeland Oaks at (330) 938-6126 and ask for Vincent.
While all the women enjoy sewing, they say Hulda Swenson is the most accomplished seamstress in the group. Swenson, a retired obstetrics nurse from Minnesota, designed a different style of head cover, a scarf-type design that ties in the back.
Swenson had a stroke, which affected her speech, but it doesn't keep her from doing this work, Vincent said.
The turban, the group's original head covering, is a good style because it stays on so well, Vincent said.
More styles
But over the years, the Turban Project has expanded its fashion choices to include not only Swenson's scarf-style covering, but a Cloche-type hat that pulls down over the head, popular among younger women, and a new Jan pattern, which Vincent said is like a little hat.
Ruth Shenk, a retired nurse who worked in the emergency room at Marymount Hospital in Garfield Heights, was one of the people Vincent called to help four years ago.
Shenk said "yes" because "I felt there was a need. And, I don't drive so I can't run around, and this was something I could do without leaving," she said.
Mary Jane Jenkins, formerly of Canfield, a medical technologist, had personally experienced losing her hair when receiving chemotherapy for non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Her husband, Dr. Robert L. Jenkins, was an internist with the Youngstown Hospital Association and had a private practice in Austintown.
"I was fortunate I responded to the chemo right away and I've been in remission for eight years," she said.
Chance to help
Jenkins said the Turban Project was a chance to help people who are in the same situation she was in.
And she said, "I like to sew and I like to do things for people less capable than I am."
Mary Lou Scott, formerly of Smithfield, keeps busy directing several vocal groups at Copeland Oaks and does not participate in sewing head coverings.
However, Vincent said, Scott was "one of our inspirations" when she lost her hair to chemotherapy, and served as a model for the head coverings.
The women say there is great personnel satisfaction in working on the Turban Project.
"People are just delighted when they get their turbans," Shenk said.
"I think while we're here on this earth taking up space, we ought to be helping people. It just makes you feel good," Vincent said.
alcorn@vindy.com