Photos courtesy oi Alisha Byrd
Alisha Byrd, left, and
Dr. Nicole Sherrill
ICorry are shown with
some of the pocketbooks
donated by Sherrill
Corry.
Some of the pocketbooks that have been donated to
Pocketbooks with a Purpose are shown.
Gift of pocketbooks
lifts spirit of homeless
and abused women
WSSU grad, department
partner for project
BY LAURIE D. WILLIS
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
SALISBURY - The way Alisha Byrd
sees it, you never know what's going to lift
someone's spirits - especially someone
who's been verbally, mentally or physical
ly abused.
So Byrd, a Salisbury native who's
authored two books and founded
Gemstones Academy, is collecting gently
used pocketbooks for battered women.
Her plan is to fill them with toiletry items
and distribute them to shelters in Rowan
and surrounding counties.
"I saw a posting on Facebook that sug
gested people fill pocketbooks with toi
letry items and hand them to homeless
women on the street," Byrd said. "I took
that information and decided to create an
initiative 1 think will be more meaningful,
and I'm calling it 'Pocketbooks with a
Purpose.'
"Pocketbooks with a Purpose isn't just
about homeless women, but it is also about
women who've been abused and whose
self-esteem has been shattered," Byrd con
tinued. "Many of them are looking for
love, answers, support, encouragement,
respect, confidence, freedom, joy, peace,
strength and protection. By no means can
I offer them all of those things, but I can
offer them a pocketbook filled with neces
sary items to let them know someone
cares."
Byrd is a graduate of Winston-Salem
State University and has an MBA from
Strayer University. She's partnered with
officials at Family Crisis Center in
Salisbury and at Winston-Salem State
University's Department of Interpersonal
Violence Prevention for her initiative.
"I'm excited they think it's a worth
while endeavor," Byrd said. "I'm grateful
to them for working with me to ensure the
pocketbooks are given to women who
need them."
Byrd's been collecting pocketbooks
since October and has amassed more than
100 bags. Gemstones students are helping
her collect them.
Founded in 2015, Gemstones
Academy is for boys and girls in 5th
through 12th grades and stresses integrity,
leadership, responsibility and scholarship
while exposing them to community serv
ice projects and individuals who've
become successful despite the odds.
"I'm not setting a deadline on dona
tions because I want to give away pocket
books year-round," Byrd said. "However,
I plan to give the bulk of them away the
week before Christmas."
Leigh Ellington of Salisbury learned
about Pocketbooks with a Purpose on
Byrd's Facebook page. The women have
been friends for a long time.
"I wanted to pitch in to help Alisha,"
Ellington said. "I think what she's doing is
great."
When people donate items, they some
times give old merchandise or things of lit
tle value. But Ellington, human resources
director for Salisbury-based Sharp Transit,
did just the opposite: She donated a peach
colored Coach bag, a light-brown Michael
Kors bag and money.
"I'd had them for only six months,"
Ellington said of the expensive designer
bags. "I did it because I'd like to see some
body in need have a brand new pocket
book. Helping people is a passion of mine
just like it is Alisha's. Women love pock
etbooks and shoes, and receiving pocket
books with toiletries will put smiles on
their faces."
So far, pocketbooks have come from
Byrd's family members and friends, par
ents of her Gemstones students and mem
bers of her church, Dorsett Chapel United
Church of Christ in Spencer. Byrd is grate
ful for the pocketbooks but said now she's
in need of toiletries.
"Sometimes when women leave abu
sive situations, they leave with only the
clothes on their backs," she said. "They
don't think about necessary items they
should take, but instead focus solely on
getting out. When the dust settles and they
end up at a shelter or at the home of a rel
ative, friend or co-worker, that's when
they realize they need toiletry items."
Byrd knows pocketbooks and toiletries
can't erase the pain of abuse, but she's
hoping the bags and useful items will help
raise the recipients' self-esteem. And
Christmas, she said, is the perfect time to
buoy someone's spirits.
"What Ms. Byrd is doing is wonder
fill," said Donna Miller, executive director
of Esther House in Stanly County, a
domestic violence/sexual assault center
that provides shelter and other services.
"The women who come to us seeking help
in many cases have been told no one cares
about them, and they've been isolated. I'm
sure this initiative will brighten many days
and turn frowns into smiles."
Miller said facilities like hers typically
see an increase in calls during the holi
days, and Byrd's kindness will have a pos
itive impact.
Byrd said her goal is simple: bring joy
to others as her maternal grandmother
Minnie Byrd taught her to do.
"Spending Christmas in a shelter away
from those you love has to be a desolate
feeling," Byrd said. "I want to share the
pocketbooks and toiletries with women
who've been abused because everybody
deserves happiness, particularly at
Christmas. I'm glad God put Pocketbooks
with a Purpose on my heart, and I'm grate
ful to Leigh Ellington, Vanessa Chunn,
Kisha Lilly, Le Kishja Mabry, Anitra
Kelly, Dr. Nicole Sherrill-Corry and others
who've contributed pocketbooks. I just
hope we'll accumulate enough toiletry
items to fill them all."
Want to donate? Pocketbooks, toi
letries or monetary donations can be
dropped off at 121 West Council Street,
Suite 202, in downtown Salisbury or
mailed to Post Office Box 484, Salisbury,
N.C. 28145. Byrd can be reached at 704
762-1445.
Raising Dollars for Scholars
STEPHEN A. SMITH
1.16.16
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SUPPORTING SCHOLARSHIPS
FOR OUR WOMEN'S SPORTS
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