I smiled for two hours Friday morning when I covered Bethsaida Community, Inc.’s first planned Glamour Day for the agency’s female clients in the greater Norwich area. Bethsaida is a relatively small operation based on Cliff Street in downtown Norwich. It has a big heart.

A few weeks ago, when staff members were moving into the agency’s new office headquarters at the former St. Joseph’s Convent across the street from its Katie Blair House for women, they started talking about a new idea.

They wanted to invite women clients in on the day after Thanksgiving for a day of pampering. They could get their hair combed and styled, get makeup, don some spiffy clothes and have a professional portrait taken as a holiday gift for family members. All free of charge.

What a great service for women struggling to keep a home, find a job and get regular meals. One woman said she hasn’t had a haircut in two years. Stylist Brenda Stone invited all the participants to come to her salon for free haircuts later.

Before Friday, most of the participants wouldn’t even want to have portrait photos of themselves even if they could afford it. But on Friday, they left Bethsaida with hair shining and faces aglow. Their friends and roommates at Katie Blair House and case managers gave thumbs up at their new looks.

Most left Bethsaida with smiles on their faces.

I smiled too.