Charlotte resident Letha Taylor surrounded by dozens of donated "Bags of Love." (Photo courtesy of Courey Creations.)

For most people, celebrating a birthday means receiving gifts; but for Letha Taylor, birthdays are all about giving.

Taylor — a native of South Carolina and a longtime resident of Charlotte — has, for the last four years, utilized her own personal holiday to host the charity event Bags of Love.

She created the benefit, which was designed to collect donated bags of all sorts (handbags, purses, knapsacks, etc.) for various local nonprofit organizations, after witnessing the generosity of some noteworthy “heroes.”

“The idea came to when I was lying on the sofa one day around Thanksgiving watching [the TV show] ‘CNN Heroes’ and I saw all these people doing things. I thought to myself: ‘Lord what can I do to give back?” said Taylor. “So I did an event on my birthday. The thought was: You don’t have to give me anything [for my birthday]. Give a gift to me by giving to someone in need.”

Past Bags of Love campaigns have culled together thousands of bags, with a focus on one organization each year. But at this year’s event, taking place Jan. 1, 2012 at the nightclub Tempo, Taylor is collecting specially packaged bags of food, pet supplies and shoes for three groups: Loaves & Fishes, the Humane Society of Charlotte and Samaritan’s Feet.

“This year I want to give people the opportunity to choose,” Taylor said. “If you want to help the homeless … if you want to help kids … or if you’re an animal lover, this is it.” (For a list of specific needed items, Taylor encourages folks to visit the websites for these groups.)

People interested in donating to the cause can drop off bags at Tempo from Tuesday through Friday from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. (4809 Wilkinson Boulevard) — or attend the Bags of Love event (which is free until 12 a.m. and features food, live music from the Tempo All Stars, dance classes by the Charlotte Purple Steppers, a DJ and more) on Sunday, Jan. 1 at 9 p.m.

For more information about the Bags of Love event, call Tempo at 704-391-8909 or email Letha Taylor at passion4style@yahoo.com.

Sign up for our Weekly Email Newsletter Email: For Email Marketing you can trust

Other Ways to Share Twitter Del.icio.us MySpace

Discussions and Submission Agreement