A record 300 handbags, filled with personal care items, were collected by Marion Women’s Club at its 3rd Annual “Handbags for Hope” holiday gathering, donating them to Turning Point and the Heart of Ohio Homeless Shelter, Marion.
--photo by Amy Evers Roston
“Our members have been so gracious in purchasing new or donating like-new totes, purses, backpacks, slings, crossbody bags and so on,” explained Valerie Wigton, Women’s Club president. “They fill them with items specifically requested by Turning Point.”
Marion Women’s Club Member Charity Coffman, director of nursing at OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, again led the hospital’s in-house effort among all nursing units, collecting 65 bags filled to the brim. “We even had our physical therapy units ask to join in,” Coffman noted. “It’s a wonderful cause, and we were happy to sponsor this again this year. Every nursing unit participated again this year.”
Items requested by the local domestic violence shelter included nail & cuticle care products, mascara, loofahs, warm socks, and feminine hygiene products. “The handbags were overflowing,” Wigton said. “Many members wrote supportive, uplifting notes, too.”
Four inflatable twin air mattresses, a special Turning Point request, were also donated by Club members.
“The first two phrases of our Club mission are to ‘empower women and enrich the community,’ Wigton pointed out. “This is just one way we stay true to our mission.”
Guest speaker Jenise LeFevre, development director at Turning Point, provided a heartfelt message at the “Handbags for Hope” program, sharing how much Turning Point clients appreciate the project. “So many women have to leave their home with absolutely nothing in their possession—not even their purse,” LeFevre explained. “When they come to Turning Point, they’re able to select a handbag that meets their needs, and they are overjoyed to receive one. For a woman, a purse is just part of our identify.”
Serving a six-county region, Turning Point utilizes each and every handbag donated by Marion Women’s Club members. “It’s such a unique project,” LeFevre added. “We appreciate it so much.”
About a dozen handbags were donated to the Heart of Ohio Homeless Shelter, Marion, enough to serve residents through 2026.
“This project has become a tradition for us,” Wigton added, “one I believe we will continue doing. We even have a couple of Marion residents who watch our Facebook page so they know when ‘Handbags for Hope’ is coming – so they can donate purses to us. Another mother/daughter/grandmother read about our project and thought it’d be a great ‘girls’ night out. As the saying goes, ‘It’s better to give than receive.’”
Members of all ages are welcome to join Marion Women’s Club, whether recently retired, an empty nester, have a love history or a desire to help others and enjoy friendships and camaraderie. Those interested in learning more and/or joining can visit MarionWomensClub.org/membership. Annual dues ($75) can be paid online.
Recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, the Marion Women’s Club is likely the oldest continuously functioning women’s nonprofit organization in Marion tracing its roots to 1895. For more, visit MarionWomensClub.org
