An Okotoks group is looking to raise $4,000 to expand their mission to help the needy in downtown Calgary.

Care Cuts, founded by local hairstylist Misty Wind, provides hair cuts, food and clothing to people in Calgary every Sunday. They've outgrown the camper van they started out with and that's why they've bought one bus and plan to purchase another.

Wind says both of the buses will require some work to meet the group's needs. One will require mechanical work to be roadworthy, while the other is currently running but needs to be retrofitted with salon equipment to be functional.

"We needed more space than the camper van had to offer," Wind explains. "And the camper van had some pretty good mechanical issues. So we bought a bus and are actually in the process of buying a second bus and having them serve a dual purpose side by side, one with all stations and one with the clothing and the food.

She says they could make do with only one operational bus for the summer, but once winter sets in, they will need the other bus operational in order to distribute food and clothing. Care Cuts volunteers head down, weather permitting, to an area near the Calgary Drop-In Centre on Sundays. They currently work from their vehicles, but Wind says that will only work until the cold weather sets in.

"We can do this only for a few more months," she says. "And then, at that point in time, we'll need to be indoors."

Wind says that they still plan to work from their original Calgary location. But she adds that once both buses are up-and-running and retrofitted with the proper equipment, Care Cuts could help out wherever there is a need.

"The goal will be to, yes, set up at our traditional location," she points out. "And then also be available to set up at other locations where there are people in need like emergency shelters or treatment centres or assisted living homes."

For more information on the Care Cuts fundraising campaign, follow the link https://www.gofundme.com/CareCutsYYC

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