Support the Hill City Purse Project

What is in your purse that you could not go without?

The Hill City Purse Project (HCPP) is already planning for the Christmas season, and they need help gathering personal and essential items to fill around 60 purses for the Cornerstone Women’s and Children’s Home in Rapid City and Women Escaping A Violent Environment (WEAVE) in Custer. 

“It’s going to be pretty much patterned after what we’ve done the last several years,” said event organizer Sue Anderson. 

From Monday, Dec. 2 to Friday, Dec. 6 there will be a spot at the Hill City Center to drop off donations for the HCPP. To make sure every woman at the homes gets one, the HCPP needs to collect around 60 purses. 

“We ask for gently used medium to large purses. The smaller ones just don’t work because we have so many really nice filler items to put in,” said Anderson. 

Filler items include things like socks, scarves, knitted caps, lotion, chapstick, gum, mints, gloves, jewelry, feminine products, new washcloths, toothbrushes, toothpaste, small shampoo bottles, hairbrushes, combs, small flashlights, notebooks, pens and more. 

Jane Magnus already made scarves for all the purses this year, and other handmade items are welcome as well. 

Donations of small toys, socks, caps, mittens and candy are also encouraged for the children at the homes.

Anything extra will be donated to the Cornerstone Thrift Store, which supports the women’s home. Meanwhile, the leftover filler items will be divided between the homes to be distributed as needed. 

“We make sure that everything is utilized at either place,” Anderson saud, 

While the HCPP cannot accept any donations until Dec. 2, Kendra Heeb, owner of The Handbag Store, will collect filler items at her store Thursday, Sept. 26-30. 

“The project is close to my heart, and I think Sue Anderson and her team have done a great job with the project. I thought it would be an excellent partnership to help support in any way that The Handbag Store could. It helps to fill a need for the Cornerstone Women’s and Children’s Home in Rapid City and WEAVE in Custer, and The Handbag Store is proud to help support and be a part of the HCPP,” said Heeb. 

Heeb collected filler items for the HCPP last October and decided to do it again during the Buffalo Roundup in hopes of getting even more donations. 

“You would not believe how many things she donated to it through this,” said Anderson. “That’s just a tremendous help.”

In addition, Anderson said that Heeb donates jewelry from her store to the HCPP. 

“It’s an easy way to give back to the women and children that are in need of these personal care items. Whether it is a toothbrush, toothpaste or a comb or a brush, it is a way to help out those that need those items at that time in their lives. There is a list of items on The Handbag Store’s website that are the recommended items for donation. 

“A little bit can go a long way. These items are then filled into a bag for the women and children and given at Christmas time and are so appreciated by them. This is a project that really makes your heart feel good,” said Heeb. 

Anderson agreed, saying, “I couldn’t give this up. It just means so much. And it’s so heartwarming when you take the things in there and see how appreciative they are. Usually, the help has tears over it because they’re so pleased and so thankful.”

Once the purses are delivered, the onsite coordinator at the Cornerstone Women’s and Children’s Home saves them for a private Purse Party. This is a special night at the home when they order pizza, watch a movie with popcorn and hand out the purses along with anything donated for the children. 

Anderson said these women and children have left everything behind and have nowhere else to go, but the HCPP lets them know that they are not forgotten during the holidays. 

“It gives a way to give back to women and children that are in a transitional spot in their lives in a way that is personal to their needs. I feel that the team is able to provide help in a way that is really appreciated by the women and children,” said Heeb. 

Anderson said, “The main reason I enjoy doing it is we’re making a difference for them, making them feel better.” 

The community can experience this feeling by getting involved in several different ways. Along with the filler items and purses, monetary donations are needed. These funds are used to put together a small Christmas card with $5 inside signed “From your Hill City friends” for every purse. Cards can be donated as well. 

If enough funds are donated, HCPP organizers would like to purchase new pillows for the children at the homes. Pillowcases to go with them are being donated by the Pillowcase Project. Last year there were enough pillowcases donated to give all the women and children a new one. 

Additional funds are used to purchase baking supplies for the homes to do extra holiday baking with the women and children. The Alpine Inn also donates hamburger to the homes. 

“We are so appreciative of any donations,” said Anderson. 

Due to limited space, HCPP cannot accept any donations until Dec. 2-6. However, filler items, children’s items and cash donations can be brought to The Handbag Store Sept. 26-30. Anyone who donates to the HCPP will receive a 25 percent discount in the store with some exceptions applying. 

Come December volunteers will go to the center daily to sort through the donated items. 

“We try to keep ahead of it by sorting it. So when the day comes for us to fill the purses, it is all ready to go,” said Anderson. 

The purses will be filled Friday, Dec. 6 starting at 10 a.m. by a group of volunteers. Afterward, the purses and donations are brought to the Cornerstone Women’s and Children’s Home and WEAVE. 

To learn more contact Anderson at 605-209-2875 or Jan Greer at 605-939-5039.