Women have had a love affair with purses and hand bags that goes back as far as the early 1900s. They are used for a variety of reasons, mostly to carry personal items but also as a fashion/personal statement. But, for women who are struggling with near homelessness or are homeless, a new hand bag or purse is a luxury they cannot afford. With this in mind, a team at Chester County Hospital initiated “Purses for a Purpose” this winter. “As the fifth largest employer in Chester County, we feel we have a social responsibility to give back to our community,” explained Jackie Felicetti, chief Human Resources officer.
Felicetti saw the idea of collecting and donating purses while she was traveling for a conference and soon began planning for a similar drive at CCH. “Families are sometimes forced to leave their homes quickly. Some are homeless and others lose everything due to house fires. Receiving a nice bag filled with necessities is a big help to those in need,” she said.
Employees and volunteers at Chester County Hospital and community members donated more than 180 purses. One donation of multiple items was mailed to the hospital from an out-of-town supporter after she saw the details of the drive on social media. Felicetti also obtained a Penn Medicine CAREs Grant for $200 so that additional bags, toiletries, gift cards, socks, gloves, and hats could be purchased.
The donations have been delivered to multiple locations: Wings of Success, an organization that helps women prepare for job interviews; Home of the Sparrow, which partners with women facing homelessness to secure housing, achieve long-term stability, and chart new paths for their futures; Chester County Hospital’s OB/Gyn Clinic; and the Friends Association who support homeless or near-homeless families stabilize their lives and find or maintain housing.