Marion Women's Club donates handbags to Turning Point, Heart of Ohio Homeless Shelter

Special to the Marion Star
·2 min read
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More than 100 Handbags for Hope − purses, backpacks, clutches, crossbody bags and totes − were filled with personal care items and donated by Marion Women’s Club members to Turning Point clients and the Heart of Ohio Homeless Shelter as part of the club’s holiday service project.

“The Marion Women’s Club has long supported the Marion community in a number of ways,” explained Valerie Wigton, president, in a release. “This project was designed to empower women and enrich our community, which directly aligns with our mission.”

Wigton said the response from members for this first of its kind project was overwhelming.

“We had sisters, aunts, friends and mothers of our members who participated,” she noted, “with handbags coming from as far away as Bowling Green, Dayton and Van Wert, Ohio, and Indiana. It was a joy to receive them all — and better knowing they’ll be used to women in need.”

Marion Women’s Club members donated over 100 handbags to Turning Point as part its holiday service project. On hand from both organizations for the presentation were Cari Hinkle, Pam DeGood, Amber Scott, Paula Burnside, Jenise Lefevre, Katie Gates and Amy Cooperider.
Marion Women’s Club members donated over 100 handbags to Turning Point as part its holiday service project. On hand from both organizations for the presentation were Cari Hinkle, Pam DeGood, Amber Scott, Paula Burnside, Jenise Lefevre, Katie Gates and Amy Cooperider.

Club members filled the new and gently used handbags with mittens, gloves, hats, toothpaste, toothbrushes (courtesy of Finney Family Dentistry, Marion), makeup (courtesy of Mary Kay consultants), snacks and other personal care items.

“Some even featured messages of hope and support,” Wigton added, “which is especially important this time of year.”

Under the recommendation of Charity Coffman, Women’s Club member and nurse manager at OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, numerous nursing teams adopted the project in support of women and families in the community.

“We were overwhelmed in how everyone embraced 'Handbags for Hope,'" Wigton pointed out. “We’ve already had requests to make it an annual service project.”

Turning Point President and CEO Amber Scott said the handbags would be divided between its two facilities in Marion and Delaware, as well as within its network of women the shelter serves outside of its two facilities.

Devin Durain, executive director at Marion’s Heart of Ohio Homeless Shelter, said the handbags would be used to support its clientele not only at Christmas, but also for birthdays, Mother’s Day and throughout the year.

Devin Durain (second from left), executive director Heart of Ohio Homeless Shelter, accepts 40 Handbags for Hope delivered by Marion Women’s Club officers, Valerie Wigton, left, president; Lynette McCullough, vice president; and Pam DeGood, secretary.
Devin Durain (second from left), executive director Heart of Ohio Homeless Shelter, accepts 40 Handbags for Hope delivered by Marion Women’s Club officers, Valerie Wigton, left, president; Lynette McCullough, vice president; and Pam DeGood, secretary.

“The first phrase of our mission is to empower women and enrich our community,” Wigton said. “Bringing a bit of comfort, joy − and hope − is one way to do just that.”

Likely Marion’s oldest continuously functioning organization, the Marion Women’s Club was formed in 1895. In 1945, club member Ida Barlow and her husband, Shauck, bequeathed their home at 1126 E. Center St., to the club. Since that time, the Women’s Club has been working to preserve the home and the club’s history, as well as serve the community in creative ways.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion Women's Club donates handbags to two area shelters