Women in need benefit from Condray’s passion

An idea that began as a posting on Facebook four years ago has turned into a passion for Marian Condray, the Assistant Director of the Cloud County Tourism Office.
"I saw something on Facebook in 2015 about donating 5000 purses to women's shelters," Condray said. "It's not just purses; there's bags and backpacks too, and they're all filled with toothpaste, soap, toothbrushes, toiletries, umbrellas - all things for women in need."
Condray put out the word, and people responded. One woman in the area donated 30 purses filled with 30 items each.
For the first two years, Condray gathered the purses and took them to a homeless shelter in Kansas City. But she realized there was a need locally, and now divides the purses between DVACK, the Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas; the Resource Center for use in their Christmas baskets; and the Ashby House, a shelter in Salina.
Condray usually begins collecting the bags in mid-November. This year she's gathered 89 purses and bags filled with items of basic needs. The Holiday Inn Express provided a lot of the soap, toothbrush, and toothpaste packets.
"This was something I knew I could do," Condray said with a grin, "because I have so many purses at home, and my husband is always telling me to get rid of them."
A need, a willingness to help, and a community that always finds a way to pitch in. 5000 purses is a goal that will soon be reached.