Purse drive collecting essential items for Kamloops women in need

KAMLOOPS — Patti Phillips of the North Shore Business Improvement Association is once again collecting filled purses for those in need.

“When the women go to the women’s shelter, most of them are on the run and they don’t have anything but the shirts on their backs,” Phillips told CFJC Today, “so these are really important for them to have these purses.”

Five years ago, when Phillips started her filled purse campaign, she says she was so excited when she collected 25 purses. This year, the goal is 700 filled bags for the Canadian Mental Health Association.

“In Kamloops it’s so funny – when you talk to women and you say that you need help with something, as soon as a woman knows that some needs help, they are right away, ‘What can I do to help?’ This is a great way to help women,” Phillips said.

Heather Fagervik, owner of Heather’s Fabric Shelf and Quilt Shop, one of the purse drop-off locations, said the community support is always overwhelming.

“Right away, as soon as I posted it into my newsletter, I think last week or the week before, it started. Purses were coming in, so we have done very well with it,” Fagervik said.

Gently used purses can be filled with everyday items like toiletries and socks as well as gifts such as jewelry and candy.

“It’s a real feel good. You get over there and are unpacking them all and they have a big room, we just fill the room from top to bottom,” Phillips said describing previous campaigns.

“It’s really exciting, it really is, to just know that there’s so many people in our community who give when people are in need. It’s just very heartwarming.”

The bags can then be dropped off at a variety of locations across the city until Dec. 14.

Drop-off locations include Heather’s Fabric Shelf at 1800 Tranquille Rd., Senor Froggy Restaurant, located at 724 Sydney Ave. and the NSBIA office at 115 Tranquille Rd.