17-Year-Old Mo Purdie Pays It Forward With Nyla’s Closet
By Delores Kuhlwein
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy
In 2021, when she was just 15 years old, Florida exhibitor Mo Purdie made a momentous decision. She decided, since she’d been lucky enough to receive a donation of show clothes to show in previously, it was time to pay it forward. Hence, Nyla’s Closet was found.
“I was lucky enough to have clothes donated to me in my size and wanted to be able to pass on what I felt when I received them and was able to show in them,” Mo explains.
Mo dropping off clothes for the Osceola County Special Olympics Equestrian Team. Her crown and sash signify her title of Florida Miss United States Agriculture. She will be representing the state at the national pageant in July.
So she began Nyla’s Closet with just what she had grown out of or didn’t wear any longer from her own closet, a project to provide donated show clothes to new, loving homes.
Though she started the charity in Florida, there was such a need for the service she was providing all over the country, she found herself very busy. “At this time, we have mostly been contacted by 4-H clubs, Special Olympics teams, and Equestrians with Disabilities. It has been so successful that we had to hold taking more donations for a couple months while we looked for space or groups to send clothes to,” Mo says.
She explains, “After Hurricane Ian, we sent what we had down to South Florida, which allowed us to open donations back up.”
Nyla’s Closet takes show clothing donations in all sizes, ages, and disciplines, and ships them to whomever is in need. “I get a lot of help from my mom, Terry Hooker, and my coach, Caitlin Daniels,” says Mo. “They both help me with the whole process, from picking up the clothes to organizing to shipping the clothes out.”
Her gratitude for what she’d enjoyed turned into a labor of love to share that feeling with others, and she’d like to see this idea expand to other shows. “I believe that other states and clubs should offer something like Nyla’s Closet because I think that everyone should be able to have the right clothes and have confidence in the show ring,” she says.
Her coach, Caitlin Daniels, explains that she is able to help because she travels to many Paint shows across the Southeast, and her next collection spot will be the Florida Paint Horse Club January 28-29th in Bushnell.
“I am not able to attend the show this weekend, but if there’s enough interest, I would be able to come Sunday to pick up donations! We collect year round so if this weekend does not work, I’m always available at another show for pick up possibilities,” says Caitlin. “Thank you to everyone who has donated and continues to support this cause! We would love for more clubs with the capabilities to do this to join in!”
To arrange a donation or to request donations for your organization, please contact Vesper Show Horses: thooker7095@gmail.com, or contact Terry Hooker or Mo Purdie on Facebook!
