Nonprofit: Purses symbolize empowerment for domestic violence survivors

Katie Rosendale
·2 min read

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — For survivors of domestic violence, a purse can represent much more, advocates say.

During the month of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Michigan State Police Lakeview Post is collecting new purses stuffed with items like hand sanitizer, lotion, clothing and more. The donation drive is known as “Purses with a Purpose.”

MSP collecting purses for domestic violence victims

The purses will go to Relief After Violent Encounter, an organization that serves domestic and sexual violence survivors in Ionia and Montcalm counties and beyond. RAVE offers services like an emergency safe house, a legal advocacy program, a 24-hour crisis hotline and an outreach program.

“We’re able to kind of meet survivors where they’re at and on a continuum,” said Jennifer Butler, executive director for RAVE.

Butler explained that when people are fleeing a domestic violence situation, they may not bring essential items like purses.

“They’re focused on getting to safety,” she said. “And so having a program like this that’s dedicated to giving them back the purse and the items that can go along with it — it’s just a nice gesture, a nice symbolism, too, for empowering them to take control of their lives.”

If you’d like to donate a purse, you can stuff it with a wide variety of items, Butler said.

“Nearly anything that people find useful in their own purses would be well-received,” she said, suggesting hand sanitizer, lotion, a wallet and a day calendar — anything that would make someone “feel good and important and special.”

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Butler said RAVE participated in Purses with a Purpose last year, too. She estimated it collected around 50 purses.

“It was very well-received,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for the community to get involved, but then also for the recipients, it’s been really nice for them to be able to pick out a purse or just get something special for them.”

Donations are being accepted through April 17. You can drop off purses at any of the following locations:

Butler said you can also donate items that might not fit in a purse, like pillows, flashlights, underwear and slippers.

“If this was one of your loved ones, how would you want them to be received and what would you want them to be able to get from the community?” Butler said. “Just think of it that way.”

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