Preppy purses, big purses, little purses, new purses. So many purses! "We're a group of friends who decided to do something good with our time,” says Matthews resident Kelly DeMario. She, like most people, has friends and family who've battled cancer.

Wanting to help, she dreamed up Purses With A Purpose. She and friends are collecting gently used purses that'll be sold to raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Last year, the first year, they collected about 600 bags. “We had everything from Target purses to Louis Vuitton and Prada, you name it, it was there,” says DeMario.

Charlotte Catholic teacher Lisa Opdyke has students who've also donated purses. "These kids are so great, they're really generous,” says Opdyke. Small bags will be sold for just a couple bucks, but everything, even the designer stuff, is under $50! DeMario says, "We were probably getting about $40 for a Louis, so yea, hello, show up, early!”

Donating your purses couldn't be easier. Once you get in touch with an organizer, they will come to your house and pick up your donation, no matter where you live in the Charlotte area!

“I think it's amazing because I have done all the fundraisers where you do all the work, you do all the the leg work,” says Cotswold resident Natalie Baggarley is donating six of her own purses and more than a dozen she's collected from family and co-workers. Many of them have never been used and still have the tags on them!

John DeMario picked up Baggarley's purses and a purses from one of her neighbor's who decided to donate, too. He says, "This isn't just something we do for fun, this is something that we have fun with but we do it for a reason."

The profits from the purses mean cancer patients can get wigs, prosthetics, even gasoline so they can drive to chemo treatments. 100% of the proceeds from Purses With A Purpose goes right back into the community.

The Purses With A Purpose sale is Saturday, May 15th, at St. Michael Anglican Church on Margaret Wallace Road from 9 AM to 12 Noon. There's still plenty of time to donate. Email helpsinkcancer@yahoo.com to arrange a pick-up.