It’s been a while since I’ve given an update on the Purse Drive that I started a few months back. If you’re so totally over the fact that I came up with the Purse Drive let me just say this: there is a big ol’ contest I’m doing to win a $500 Visa gift card at the end of this post. So, either you can take heart and walk along this really cool journey with me or you can be selfish go straight to the end of this post to win something.
It’s up to you.
Just remember this teeny tiny word: KARMA.
Initially, the idea behind the purse drive came after one of my female students cried to me about not having the correct size purse to carry at school. Anything larger than a piece of 8×10 paper wasn’t allowed in the classroom as a safety concern. So, I started cleaning out my own closets looking for something and then started asking friends if they had anything they wanted to get rid of in the way of purses since I know how many purses my friends own. A LOT. YOU LADIES OWN A LOT OF PURSES. After that, I started asking around to my online friends not knowing whether or not they’d find it a worthwhile cause.
The overwhelming response made me think a lot about how grassroots efforts take off at rocket speed.
Then, I thought it would be difficult to figure out how to get the purses into the girls’ hands without starting a riot since I had some Coach purses and a few Betsey Johnson bags and other designer clutches. It occurred to me that charging a mere $5 per purse would work. There was a lot of criticism for that because they were donated in the first place so that only lasted a few days until the girls at my school realized they could come to me for a new, size-accepted purse. Now, the purses reside in a few places in my building where girls can go for a purse. More often than not they shyly enter my office, ask if I’ve still got some purses left, and if they are able to take a look at them. It’s encouraging to watch the process because they sort of act like they’re picking out a new puppy, not something to hold wallets and cell phones and tampons.
Some moments cannot be captured in print from this experience and I honestly don’t want to exploit every girl who has visited me for a purse. As long as this has been going on, however, I’m still surprised by the girls who ask, “Would you be able to help me with a purse, please?” and not because they say “please” but because they still need them and have, without any formal prompting, found their way to see me for a purse.
Enough sappy stuff, let’s get on with the giving away of even more stuff! If you click on that link you’ll be taken to my Review Blog to read about my experience driving a Lincoln MKT crossover vehicle for a week and then you can enter the contest to win a $500 Visa gift card. Good luck!
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Which reminds me that I have two more purses I’ve been meaning to send you. I’ll head to the post office tomorrow morning!
Awesome.
Can you put the address up again for us to send this to?
Thanks, Average Jane!
Meg, I thought you’d enjoy hearing some update as well. BTW, here’s an update on the hat and gloves you knitted me: they’re getting good use and lots of compliments. I get to say, “Oh, this? Yes, it’s HOMEMADE.” But then I remember to say that they were made in YOUR home and not mine.
CrazyMomTats, first of all? What a name! Secondly, here’s the info:
Kelly Wickham
P.O. Box 9465
Springfield, IL 62791
I still have to send purses – I suck at getting things done.
No worries, Miareeva! It’s ooookay. I have plenty to give out.
I’m with Miareeva – I suck at getting things done, too.
But since I’m planning my great decluttering of 2010, I should find some and get them sent sometime soon. Or hopefully at least before the beginning of the next school year.
Thanks for the update, Kelly, but am I being greedy if I ask for some more details? Like how many purses did you end up receiving? How much money did you raise and what did you do with the funds? Am I being too nosey? I just thought this was such a cool idea, and even cooler that your blogosphere friends helped you out with your cause.
Me too! Me too! Where did the furthest purse come from? Did you get messages in each one?
It just occurred to me that it might become a ‘shame’ thing at your school. I hope that there was no teasing of the girls who needed your new small purses. I hope not.
Kelly, it ended up being such a paltry fund that it’s sad! I gave away the majority of purses and we made about $50 from the sales, but we put it in a fund to help students ‘as needed’. The number of purses is near 425 and there are plenty left to sustain this project for a few years.
That’s not greedy, it’s just curiosity. The blogosphere was so happy to help that I’m happy to report.
The furthest purse came from Ireland and was tiny and charming and the girl who has it is using it as a coin purse – she loves vintage stuff and it has that look. There were messages in half the purses that came in and THAT WAS AWESOME.
No shame in it, but they come to me in private. Whatever works, I say.
So glad to hear the purse drive has been a success. I still have some purses I can send your way if you are in need.
i would so send you a purse if i were a purse person.