Fill a purse for a sister, help change a life at Newmarket event

You can show women in crisis that they have the support of the community by bringing your gift of a purse filled with necessities to the 10th annual Fill a Purse for a Sister Campaign purse party in Newmarket on Tuesday.

The campaign, which continues to grow across York Region and the province, has kicked off its 10th anniversary drive with a goal to collect thousands of purses and backpacks for women and youth in shelters and crisis centres by Dec. 1.

The event, hosted by Juliane Goyette, Carmina Pereira, Sheila Stewart and Debora Kelly, takes place Tuesday, Oct. 15 at the rooftop event space at the Postmark Hotel, 180 Main St. S., from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

At 7 p.m., you’ll hear how your kindness is making a difference from Fill a Purse for a Sister Campaign founder and president Angel Freedman, Women’s Centre of York Region executive director Nivedita (Niv) Balachandran, and Newmarket Mayor John Taylor.

The free evening includes entertainment courtesy of country/pop/rock singer Bianca Rollo. (Reservations are suggested if you want to dine at the Overlea Restaurant before or after the purse party.)

You’ll receive a ticket for each purse donated or each monetary donation of $25 to be entered into draws for fabulous prizes from campaign supporters Hempen Jewellers, Function Studios, Greg King Photography, Silent Auction Company, Still in Style, Scotiabank, and Riverwalk Wealth.

“The need continues to grow, along with the spiralling rate of intimate partner violence,” said Freedman. “Fortunately, the number of people taking part in the campaign and sending a message of caring and hope to women and young people in need is also growing.”

The campaign began in Newmarket and surrounding York Region communities in 2014 with a modest collection of 1,500 new and gently used purses filled with personal necessities being donated to a few shelters across the Greater Toronto Area.

The drive has grown every year since, with more than 10,000 purses collected annually across the province and in campaigns springing up in communities across Canada and around the globe.

Freedman, along with community lead volunteers like Deirdre Marshall-Pulchinski and Debra Orton for the Newmarket/Holland Landing campaign, are connecting daily with individuals, community organizations, schools and businesses from across the province who want to get involved.

Newmarket was one of the original communities to host a campaign.

“Most of us take our purses everywhere with us, but most women in shelters don’t have a purse,” said Freedman, a Stouffville-based social worker. “The Fill a Purse for a Sister Campaign not only gives women and youth in our communities a purse or backpack to call their own, but also the gift of dignity.”

Women who come to domestic violence shelters don’t have any personal possessions as they are fleeing for their lives, campaign recipient Yellow Brick House, a York Region shelter for abused women and their children, has said. The donations of purses are helping women rebuild their lives.

The gift of a purse — and seeing the care and thoughtfulness that went into filling it with necessities and “little comforts that we take for granted” — can help boost the confidence of a woman at the shelter.

Another local recipient, the Women’s Centre of York Region, has a wait list of clients wishing to receive the purses at the Newmarket-based non-profit agency that empowers women through life transitions with programs and services.

While the purses are filled with practical items, from tissues to tampons, and the usual essentials, from lip balm and gum to gift cards and hair clips, the heartfelt personal note of caring that many donors also include is particularly appreciated, the centre has said.

Here’s how to take part in the campaign:

To contribute to the campaign, simply fill a new or gently used purse or backpack with toiletries, sanitary products and other personal items. Add your own special touch, such as a scarf, gloves, notebook or journal, or a gift card.

You can also host a purse party or event to involve your family, friends, neighbours, co-workers or classmates.

Purses and backpacks must be dropped off by Dec. 1, when they will be collected and delivered to local shelters and crisis centres. In Newmarket, drop-off locations are Still in Style Resale Boutique at 203 Main St., Club Pilates at 17305 Leslie St., and the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex at100 Eagle St. W.

You can find other community drop-off locations, as well as a full list of suggested items to include in your purse, on the campaign website here.

Freedman can be reached at [email protected].