'Oil People Helping Oil People' aids struggling neighbours in Brooks, Alta.

After seeing friends suffering from the economic downturn, a woman inBrooks, Alta., decided to step up.

She started a non-profit groupin her communityabout 185 kilometres southeast of Calgarycalled Oil People Helping Oil People(OPHOP).

The idea is to helpstruggling families in need by raising funds and accepting donations to buy them gift cards to local grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations, amongother measures.

"Idon't think people outside of the industry understand that it's not this continual money tree," says KellyBanush, founder ofOPHOP.

"There's high overhead. There's good times, there's bad times. But when your industry crashes and burns overnight, you've got to do something to be there for those people

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Banush says the idea came to her after getting calls from friends unable to pay their bills or put food on their tables.

She says some local service agencies were also turning them away.

"What is it? Are they pulling in the parking lot in theirEscalade? Why aren't they qualifying, don't they have the paperwork?" she asks.

"I thought this is absolutely ridiculous."

Banush says on top of that, contract workers don't qualify for employment insurance.

So she started seeking donations and developing a team of volunteers.

Raised thousands of dollars

In two months they've raised thousands of dollars and helped several families.

"We take the donations and turn them into gift cards put it into the mother's hands so she can make her own choices."

And she says the response has been overwhelming.

"It's usually quick, 'thank you, appreciate it, gotta fly,' actually it's been really great."

Banush is selling T-shirts and mugs at local stores like the Red Basket Food Store, owned byTwylla Bexte.

Bexte tells CBC News that despite being hit hard by the downturn herselfshe's lost about half of her businessshe still wants to help others, including some of her former customers.

"The lineups that we used to have in the mornings, the gloves they purchased, they've always kind of been there for us and kept our business going," Bexte said.

"So I just thought it would be nice to give back to the guys who have helped us through the years."

'Not the way we do it in Brooks'

The MLA for Strathmore-Brooks, Derek Fildebrandt, says he's proud of thisinitiative.

"You know, a lot of people sit around and wait for the government to do something. That's not the way we do it in Brooks," said Fildebrandt.

Banushplans to addchapters of Oil People Helping Oil Peopleacross the province.

She hopes itwill become an industry-specific charity that will grow once the economy rebounds, so it can act as a safety net for families during the next downturn.

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