With the holiday season just around the corner and finals nearing, many Iowa State faculty, staff and students find themselves lacking time to get everything done.

Time-Savers, a new shopping, errand and gift-basket service in Ames, is now available for those stressed by the holiday seasons.

Shelly Pearson, former secretary in the sociology extension at Iowa State, started her new business in the spring in order to provide a service for people-on-the-go, disabled persons and shut-ins in Ames.

“People always need an extra hand, and I am always trying to help others. That is why I started it. The first point is to help the elderly and the second point is to help people who need an extra hand,” Pearson said.

Pearson said she can do almost anything and ” … it never hurts to ask.” She said she performs services such as business-related shopping trips, picking up supplies, delivering and printing documents, picking up airline tickets and retrieving dry cleaning and film.

“From my knowledge of my past experience at Iowa State, I learned that professors, grad students, researchers and other staff have tight and hectic schedules,” Pearson said. “The main problem with most of the people I’ve met was lack of time to get everything done.”

Pick-ups and deliveries usually start at around $6 and vary on the time and mileage involved, she said. Pearson also does personal shopping for people, such as grocery shopping and gift shopping.

She said her prices on shopping depend on the amount the person wants to purchase. “People can call me and I will give them a quote on the phone,” she said.

Pearson not only performs services, but she also makes gift baskets and shops for personal gifts. “I know people are always running behind and can’t get off work to buy their gift. I love to shop for that perfect gift,” she said.

All people need to do, she said, is call her with the amount they want to spend, what the gift is for and to tell her the likes or hobbies of the person, and she will make the basket and deliver it.

“The amount the person wants to spend on the basket includes the delivery. There is no additional delivery cost,” she said.

Her gift baskets are for any occasion, such as seasonal ones including Christmas, Secretary’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries or thank-yous.

“It is a great way to surprise someone when they least expect it,” she said. Pearson also makes baskets for ISU enthusiasts.

Time Savers is just starting to get popular. Pearson said she is surprised at the response she gets to the service from complete strangers.

“The best advertising I have is my Time-Savers logo with a picture of a cartoon clock on the side of my mini-van,” she said.

Pearson owns and operates the business out of her home. “My own personal logo would have to be: ‘Time-Savers Shopping and Errand Service: putting time back into your day,” she said.

“I’ve always been one to try and help others in any way I can. They know they can call me if they ever need anything,” she said. Pearson can be contacted at 232-3151.