Talk about shopping sprees — Mary Hyland, Tom Fielding and Brian McAlister took one to remember last Friday morning.

The trio of American Red Cross volunteers went shopping at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Austin with a $1,500 grant from Wal-Mart Inc.

The purpose: to purchase needed items for the Mower County chapter’s personal care items shelf.

The shoppers and their carts piled high with merchandise attracted second-looks from other Wal-Mart shoppers and store employees.

Shopping for the needy during the Christmas shopping frenzy and doing it “on a mission” was an extra-special experience for the Red Cross volunteers.

“It felt good,” Fielding said afterward as the trio waited in a checkout line with shopping carts jammed with goods. “Anytime you can help people in needed, it feels good.”

McAlister, who spends much of his time working with the chapter’s personal care items shelf, said the free service is well-used.

“A lot of people of all ages use it,” he said. “Being able to offer such a service helps these people obtain necessary things they couldn’t purchase for themselves.”

Clients must be income eligible to qualify for the service.

Hyland, the local chapter’s office manager, who supervised the shopping spree, said the trio filled their shopping carts with soap, toothpaste, shaving cream, deodorant, shampoo and paper products, among other items.

Wal-Mart store personnel assisted the Red Cross volunteers.

In addition to the lengthy list of personal care items, there were baby care items for young mothers, such as cloth diapers.

“The personal care shelves at the Mower County Red Cross headquarters are stocked with really just those items of necessity that everyone needs,” she said.

“We appreciate the grant we received from Wal-Mart. The items will help many people,” Hyland said.

While many of the clients served are young adults with children, Hyland said senior citizens are also among the clients who use the personal care shelf service.

For more information about the Red Cross service, call the headquarters Monday through Friday at 437-4589.