A Comox Valley woman has initiated a campaign to collect gently-used handbags filled with essentials — and a few treats to sweeten up the holiday season for a woman in need.
Items on Jane Wood’s Handbags for Hope list include hats, scarves, shampoo, toothbrushes, razors, lip balm, deodorant and nail kits. Chocolate bars and other sweets are also welcome.
Donors are also asked to include a ‘note of hope’ to the recipient.
The items will benefit women who use services provided by the Comox Valley Transition Society.
“These are women from poverty, domestic violence, drug and alcohol issues,” said Wood, who became a Valley resident about a year ago.
She hails from Australia, where her mother and friends had initiated a similar venture. Wood decided to start her own campaign in her new town, so she contacted the CVTS — which welcomed her idea with open arms.
“On behalf of Transition Society, we appreciate community support like this,” CVTS program co-ordinator Anne Davis said. “The individual touch of women reaching out to women really means a lot to the women who will be receiving these.”
Wood hopes to acquire at least 125 handbags, which will be distributed Dec. 13 at the society’s annual Christmas lunch. Guests will be able to ‘shop’ for a bag of their choosing.
“Instead of handing them out, it’s going to be more of a shopping experience for them,” Wood said. “They get to choose something of value that they would want.”
Handbags can be dropped off at the Transition Society at 625 England Ave. in downtown Courtenay.
Another option is to contact Wood at (250) 650-1432 or janewood1234@yahoo.com for pickup.
For those who cannot afford to fill an entire bag, Wood will happily accept donations of items.
Visit her Facebook page at Comox Valley Handbags for Hope.