Handbags help Rosary Society benefit women in need

The St. Catherine’s Rosary Society will once again be collecting “new or gently used” handbags for women and teens, and filling each handbag with 10-12 new items (see list below). Handbags will be donated to the Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Crisis Center, Washington/Oxford, NJ and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Bronx, NY.

The Rosary Society is asking parish members to help us with the collection by donating new and gently used handbags and/or new filler items. Please make sure all used handbags are in good condition and all donated items to fill the handbags are new. All handbags and filler items can be dropped off at the Parish Center after weekend Mass until September 2nd. Please email jacobseng@mail.com or donnajo36@comcast.net with any questions.

Lynda’s Helping Handbags was started in 2016 in Green, Ohio by two sisters, Lynda Dodson and Cindy Rutherford. While struggling with serious health issues, Lynda decided on reaching out to help others rather than focusing on herself. She decided to address a basic personal necessity that all women use: a handbag — something that many take for granted. Lynda wanted to fill the handbags with common necessities and give them to women in need.

Parishioners who would like to participate in the project can donate suggested items to be used to fill the handbags, including:

• Small hand lotion
• Trial size shampoo/conditioner
• Small body spray Deodorant Chapstick or lip gloss
• Toothpaste/toothbrush
• Blush
• Tissues—individual size
• Mascara
• Pocket calendar
• Hair brush/comb
• Pens
• Nail file/clipper
• Trial size tampons/pads
• Tweezers
• Small hand sanitizer

Please remember that all items to fill the handbags must be new.