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Date: 2/9/2023
SPRINGFIELD – The United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) is launching Power of the Purse for 2023, a program that fills purses with critical toiletries and items for women in social service programs in their region.
Director of Community Impact Jennifer Kinsman said, “Power of the Purse is a program that the United Way of Pioneer Valley began last year. It’s a term that United Ways across the country use, but they do different things with it so we designed our program in a particular way.”
In partnership with their affiliate group, the Dora D. Robinson Women’s Leadership Council, UWPV are asking the public to donate gently used and new purses to them and also toiletries such as soap, deodorant, lotion, hair products, feminine hygiene products, lip balm, and toothbrushes and toothpaste, as well as flashlights, small journals, inspirational items, and first aid kits. They then get together as a group of women for four days and for a couple of hours on each of those days pack the purses with all the items.
“No two purses are identical,” Kinsman said. “There are all kinds of fun items that people drop off, so we’re able to include those and it’s a very feel good project.” She continued, “We work with social service agencies and programs that welcome women back into re-entry after having been incarcerated, as well as programs that work with survivors of domestic violence, so there are a lot of women in the Pioneer Valley who can benefit from this. It’s a gift for us to be able to do it and we’re able to pass it on to these women in need.”
Since 1921, the United Way of Pioneer Valley provides programs and services, connect volunteers, teach social responsibility, and meet the critical needs of the people of Hampden County, Granby and South Hadley. A year and a half ago, UWPV had just opened up a food pantry and frequently heard that many homeless women were in need of toiletries. Kinsman told Reminder Publishing toiletries are hard to come by; simple items like soap, shampoo and women’s hygiene products aren’t given out everywhere and they thought they could make a difference by designing this program. Last year, UWPV served 2,000 women with Power of the Purse. This year, they would like to have that same success. After the purses are distributed, UWPV gets feedback from the social service agencies about how the purses were received and if they need more. UWPV welcomes input from any companies that want to donate their time or items for the purses or the purses themselves.
“There aren’t a lot of programs like this,” Kinsman said. “These resources aren’t available in many of the places that you might hope they would be. People will expect us to carry out this program each year and we’re hoping we have the capacity to do so.”
To donate, go to www.uwpv.org to see the list of items they’re looking for. Volunteers can sign up at www.uwpv.org/volunteer. Contact Kinsman at jkinsman@uwpv.org or 693-0212 with any questions. Donations of purses and toiletries may be made at United Way of Pioneer Valley, 1441 Main Street, Suite 147, Springfield, through Feb. 16.