DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology Delivers Pumpkins to Shriners, Baystate

SPRINGFIELD — One of the most cherished traditions at DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology in West Springfield is the annual Halloween pumpkin-decorating competition. But it’s not the decorating that brings the most joy to the students and staff — it’s the delivery of these holiday-themed pumpkins to the young patients of Shriners Hospitals for Children and Baystate Medical Center, both located in Springfield.

On Oct. 27, seven students, accompanied by DiGrigoli School owner Paul DiGrigoli and staff member Kelsey Goulding, hand-delivered 20 painted pumpkins to each hospital, along with several blank pumpkins for the children to decorate themselves. The elaborate designs ranged from spooky spiderwebs and skulls to colorful cartoon characters such as Minnie Mouse, Pikachu, Olaf, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

DiGrigoli purchases more than 80 pumpkins every year as a part of a creative exercise for the students and as a teaching tool on the importance of charity, community involvement, and compassion.

“We love this,” he said. “Our students and faculty love the children and really enjoy this event. Community is very important to us.”