Abigail “Abby” Montesi, a junior at Clover High School, is no stranger to philanthropy or to Clover Area Assistance Center.
For the second time in three years, Abby has brought a program of giving to CAAC. This year, her project is called “Random Acts of Kindness” and entails giving out new or gently used purses filled with toiletries and cosmetics to women who come to CAAC for assistance.
What is random is that Abby does not do this every day, but chooses different days and gives out the purses to whoever is at the center at that given time. Abby has found every woman is appreciative of the gesture and has expressed to her how happy it makes them to have a teenage girl take the time to make a difference for them.
“It’s very heartwarming,” she said.
Abby created the “Random Acts of Kindness” program as part of a statewide competition through Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), a club she belongs to at the high school. She recently received recognition at the state level for this project, and will be competing this summer at the national level in Florida.
The collection of purses and toiletries started in January, with donations being made at Bethel, Crowders Creek and Kinard elementaries, and Clover High. By mid-February, more than 100 purses were collected and enough toiletries were donated to fill at least 80 of those purses. It took time to sort and stuff all the purses, but Abby had the help and support of her mother the whole way.
The last “Random Act of Kindness” was held in mid-March. Butt Abby is donating all remaining purses to CAAC for their Mother’s Day program.
She offered this advice to other students about becoming involved in charitable work: I would tell them that giving would make a big difference in their own lives. This program felt wonderful. I have always put others before myself, and I will continue to do that until I die.
Submitted by Bob Carroll, Clover Area Assistance Center
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