Handbags For Hope

My friend JP told me about this and I wanted to share it because I think it's a wonderful project.  It's called "Handbags For Hope"

On Mother's Day, countless moms will receive purses as gifts. But for hundreds of Austin-area domestic violence victims, the purses they receive could contain a lifeline.

The Texas Advocacy Project and the Travis County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday that they are collecting new or gently used purses as part of a campaign, Handbags for Hope, to put information on domestic violence into more women's hands. The handbags, which will be given to the women by their children as gifts, will have the Texas Advocacy Project's domestic violence hot line number stitched inside.

"Many victims of domestic violence leave their partner in the middle of the night," said Heather Bellino, the nonprofit's spokeswoman. "Usually they bring nothing with them except their children and purse." Bellino said pamphlets with phone numbers and resources often end up in the trash or taken away by an abuser. Discreet information stitched into a purse could make a difference in finding legal help, she said, adding that the Texas Advocacy Project offers its services for free.

Handbags For Hope

5555 Airport Blvd.

Austin, TX 78751-1410