AUSTIN (KXAN) — Purses for Hope began 15 years in the past in Travis County, and organizers stated 45,000 purses have been donated to shelters since then.
“This program truly began with getting them out to the shelters in time for Mom’s Day, in order that if a mother occurs to be in a shelter, and your child is with you, then they may be capable of seize a kind of purses and reward them to you.” stated Heather Bellino, chief govt officer of the Texas Advocacy Mission.
The nonprofit supplies free authorized companies to survivors of home violence, sexual assault and stalking in Texas. Every donated purse has a discreet tag that lists TAP’s toll-free line — (800) 374-HOPE — giving entry to TAP’s authorized and social companies.
The necessity has grown to donate the baggage past shelters.
“Proper now, it’s simply actually necessary for us to ensure we get gender-neutral tote luggage within the fingers of well being care suppliers, particularly these working with sexual assault and rape victims,” stated Bellino.
The purses can be given out at hospitals.
“Sadly, when somebody has to go to the hospital and have a SANE examination, that may be very violating, upsetting and traumatizing on high of trauma that they already endured,” stated Bellino. “So for us to have the ability to present one thing to hold their belongings out with them after a few of these belongings have been eliminated for case work, I feel is simply going to be actually useful.”
The group is asking for gently-used purses to be dropped off at locations listed here or on the Travis County Sheriff’s Workplace.
