The need to provide women and youth in crisis with a purse or backpack filled with necessities has grown during the pandemic in Newmarket and across York Region.
The Fill a Purse for a Sister Campaign has launched its sixth annual drive during an unprecedented time that has seen numbers soar for women and youth turning to shelters for safety and support.
From now to Dec. 1, the campaign aims to collect thousands of purses and backpacks for women and youth in shelters and crisis centres across the country.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the crucial impact of our annual campaign,” said founder and president Angel Freedman. “It’s as important as ever that we take this opportunity to show our compassion and support of women who have had to flee their homes to escape violence and abuse."
The pandemic has been linked to spikes in domestic violence reports in Canada, as well as around the globe, according to the Canadian Women’s Foundation.
Local shelters and crisis agencies receiving the donations include Yellow Brick House, Women's Support Network, Women's Centre of York Region, Blue Door, and Rose of Sharon.
Many women and young people arrive at shelters with few or no personal belongings, and the gift of a new or gently used purse or backpack filled with personal necessities is an impactful gift, Freedman said.
“The Fill a Purse for a Sister Campaign is providing women and youth with a purse or backpack to call their own, and most importantly, it is helping to restore their dignity,” she added.
The gift of a purse — and seeing the care and thoughtfulness that goes into filling it with necessities that many of us take for granted — can help boost the confidence of a woman at a shelter who is working to rebuild her life, according to shelter workers at Yellow Brick House.
While the purses and backpacks are filled with practical items, from tissues to tampons, and the usual essentials, from lip balm to gift cards, shelter employees say the heartfelt personal note many donors also include is particularly appreciated.
In Newmarket and area, individuals, community organizations, schools and businesses are encouraged to get involved.
“We know it’s never been more important that we make this gesture to give hope to women and youth in our community who are facing a crisis,” Freedman added.
To join the campaign, simply fill a new or gently used purse or backpack with toiletries, sanitary products and other personal items. Add a special touch, such as a scarf, gloves, notebook or gift card. All items must be in unopened packages.
You can host a fill a purse event with your family, friends, neighbours, colleagues or classmates — ensuring public health guidelines for social circles, gatherings, physical distancing and face masks are being followed.
In Newmarket, purses and backpacks can be dropped off at Still in Style Resale Boutique, 203 Main St.; in Aurora at Great Clips, 91 First Commerce Dr., Unit 7 (Highway 404 and Wellington Street East); and in Stouffville at Great Clips, 1076 Hoover Park Dr.
All donations will be contained for 72 hours before being packaged for delivery.
Since the campaign began in York Region and Toronto in 2014, about 10,000 purses are collected annually throughout the province and in campaigns springing up in communities across Canada.
The Fill a Purse for a Sister Campaign is now a registered Canadian charity able to provide tax receipts for financial donations.
More than 17,000 women and children use the province’s 70 shelters annually, according to the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses (OAITH), and one in three will experience violence in their lifetime.
Community leads and additional drop-off locations are needed for Newmarket, Aurora and area. For more information about how to get involved, or to find out where to drop off donations in your community, visit Fill a Purse for a Sister Campaign on Facebook or Instagram.
Financial donations can be made by etransfer to [email protected] or by mailing a cheque to Fill a Purse for a Sister Campaign, 6393 Main St., Stouffville, ON, L4A 1G4. Tax receipts are provided for donations of $25 and higher.
Angel Freedman can be contacted at [email protected].
