Image Credit: Kent Simmonds / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

WOMEN HELPING WOMEN

More than 500 care package purses collected for women’s shelter donation

Dec 15, 2020 | 4:26 PM

KAMLOOPS — For the past three years, a Kamloops woman has collected purses filled with essential items for women in need — and this year’s campaign has gathered more than 500 of the stylish care packages.

This week, Patti Phillips and her team will deliver hundreds of purses to the Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) Emerald House shelter. CMHA will then give the purses to women fleeing abusive relationships or unsafe living arrangements.

“The first year we got 25 (purses), and I thought I did really well. Last year we did 340 which is incredible, but this year has just blown up and we’ve got, I think, more than 500,” Phillips told CFJC Today. “We still have more coming in today and there’s more coming in tomorrow.”

Phillips says the bags include a variety of options for the women staying in shelters around the city.

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“Pretty much any kind of essentials that you have in your own purse. From a hair brush, but also toothpaste and toothbrush. Socks are a big one that CMHA always tells me that they need so we definitely have that. And just anything you can think of make-up wise, or deodorant, and a lot of people put gift cards in.”

Donated purses are filled with basic care items to get someone through a difficult transition period, but the ultimate goal is to help restore the dignity of women escaping a volatile situation.

“With COVID, there’s been so much more domestic violence within homes. There has been a lot more women running from abuse. And the sad thing is most of the women — when they do come to the shelters — they literally come with the shirt on their back and that’s it. They don’t have anything.”

Phillips notes that this year’s collection period has wrapped up, but monetary donations can be still be made anytime to CMHA, the Elizabeth Fry Society, the YMCA Emergency Women’s Shelter or any non-profit in Kamloops.