During the month of September, the Ross Medical Education Center campus in Madison Heights, MI once again collected new and gently used purses, wallets, and handbags to donate to Handbags of Hope. Handbags of Hope is an organization based out of Eastpointe, Michigan, and their mission is to take each gently used purse that is donated and turn it into a handbag of hope for domestic violence victims. Each bag is filled with 10 essential items, including hair brushes, manicure sets, lip balms, tissues, and other toiletries.
Jackie Bobcean started Handbags of Hope in 2006 to provide some support and hope for women that escape domestic abuse situations. “While a purse may not seem like a life changing thing to many of us, for those who have lost everything, it may be,” Jackie shared. “Often fleeing in the middle of the night after years of abuse, the gift of a purse can bring a sense of security to a woman who left all her belongings behind to find physical safety. When your house, car, clothing, and even identity cards, are missing, anything to call your own is comforting.”
The staff, faculty, and students at Ross agree with Jackie’s vision. That’s why they decided to support this organization for the second year in a row. Many students brought in items as well as purses and wallets, enthusiastic about helping these brave women and giving them something to call their own. In fact, a student from the Medical Assistant class in Madison Heights, Laura McDuffey, brought in an entire bag of purses. “I just like helping people. I get a joy from it and feel good when I can help others,” she shared. The students in the Medical Insurance Billing and Office Administration program were excited to join in on the efforts as well. Through their generous donations as well as the various other students and staff, the campus was able to collect and donate three large boxes full of purses and toiletry items. The campus looks forward to continuing this tradition moving forward.
If you are interested in learning more about Handbags of Hope and how you can help, visit the Handbags of Hope Facebook page or their website at www.handbagsofhope.org.