Patti Phillips (Image Credit: CFJC News)

By Sydney Chisholm

women helping women

1,000 purses: Patti Phillips gathers the necessities for Kamloops women in need

Nov 10, 2023 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS – It has been six years since Patti Phillips of the North Shore Business Improvement Association started collecting filled purses for women in need and her annual bag drive is reaching new heights.

“The very first year I did 25 purses and I had filled up the back of my car and I was just laughing,” Phillips explained. “I was so excited. Who knew that it could possibly get into 800 — and possibly 1,000?”

Phillips is once again collecting donations for the campaign she calls ‘Women Helping Women.’

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For the last six years leading up to Christmas, Phillips has been collecting gently used purses and bags filled with necessities and little gifts for women in need.

“[The women in need] are so grateful that there’s women helping women and they know that there’s women who understand what they’re going through,” she said. “And just the fact that they went to this much trouble to fill these purses up like some other work, just stuff like, you know, I just appreciate it so much.”

Each year the drive grows and more and more purses are donated.

“Last year it was close to 800. This year, I have this goal of 1,000, and I’m just hoping and praying that that can happen,” she said. “I’ve got some calls from a few businesses in the city that are collecting them as a whole, their staff collecting them and whatnot.”

But even 1,000 purses will only last until February.

“I say this every single year, that the women in a women’s shelter are full all the time and the need is strong all the time, but it is getting stronger every year.”

According to Phillips, dry socks are the most-needed item people should think about when filling a bag, but any toiletries, feminine hygiene products and other small items are appreciated.

The bags can then be dropped off at a variety of locations across the city until Dec. 11.

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.