CARSTAIRS - For residents Ashley Reid and Nerissa Pitts giving back to the community comes naturally. It's a trait that has obviously been passed on to their children.
The two young mothers are the driving forces behind Preston's Purses, a group that collects purses, toiletries, scarves, gloves, etc., for men, women and children who are less fortunate.
Preston's Purses was started last year by Reid and named after her son.
In that first year they received 170 purses. This year they are hoping to eclipse that number with Pitts on board along with her women's group Mustache Riders.
“I started Preston's Purses last year because my kids and I always do charity work around Christmas time,” said Reid.
“We drop off toys at the children's hospital and Ronald McDonald House and places like that. We saw a post on Facebook about these bags you could fill up for the homeless shelters. My kids said, ‘Mom, that's such a good idea. Let's give that a try.'”
Reid's two kids, who are just four and six, are very socially responsible.
“I wanted to raise them that Christmas isn't just about receiving things and getting presents. It's also about giving,” she said. “Every year since they were born they've earned money doing chores. We then go shopping and take the toys to the children's hospital.”
Reid said they started out small with some bags and purses and filled them with hats, tuques, shampoo, socks, deodorant and other toiletries, which they then dropped off at a couple of shelters in Calgary.
“I then met Nerissa, who started the Mustache Riders, and she helped me take it to a new level,” said Reid.
“I think we ended up filling almost 140 purses. We dropped off a bunch of them to the women's shelter downtown (Calgary) and the Mustard Seed.”
The Mustache Riders is a group of around 60 women who raise funds for various causes such as ALS and cancer.
“This is our 10-year anniversary,” said Pitts. “Ashley is now my sheriff. She helped me a lot with our fundraisers. When I brought the idea of the purses to the Mustache Riders they had 80 purses built right away.”
Reid said they would be more than willing to help local groups from the area if they came forward.
Anyone wishing to donate items to Preston's Purses can use the drop boxes at Snips Hair Salon or ATB in Carstairs from now until Dec. 15.
They also accept cash donations, which can be used to purchase items of which they are short.
“Our slogan is do small things with great love,” said Reid. “Every little bit counts.”
Sandy Broadbent, branch manager of Carstairs ATB, said it's a great cause and they're happy to help out.
“When you visit the streets of Calgary or Edmonton or any centre, you see men, women and children on the street who don't have enough to make it through day to day,” she said.
“Whatever we can do to step up. For those of us fortunate enough to still have jobs, if there is some way to step up and pay it forward why would we not?”
"I started Preston's Purses last year because my kids and I always do charity work around Christmas time,"Ashley Reid
