DENVER — A women’s networking group called SHE (Supporting Heart and Enterprise) Leads Group is handing out 240 new and gently used purses filled with personal necessities to women’s homeless shelters across the metro area. The community service project is part of the group’s overall mission to help women from all backgrounds.
“I think it’s important that we can give these women something special,” founder Beth Boen said. “There’s some bags that members have donated, nice little trinkets of jewelry and other things to make them feel special.”
SHE Leads Group is a women’s networking organization for career women and women entrepreneurs. The organization is a non-traditional leads group made up of women business professionals from the Denver area.
“Our mission is women supporting women, and that’s to support each other in any way possible,” Boen said. “This year we’re doing our second year of our purse project.”
SHE Leads Group members donated the purses and filled them with personal items like shampoo, soap, socks, gloves, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products and other items women experiencing homeless would appreciate. Even women outside the SHE organization donated items, including a local chapter of an organization called Days for Girls, who donated 100 feminine hygiene kits.
“When we did this last year, the women…. tears came to their eyes,” member Donna Kidd said. “The better you look and the better you feel and the more confidence you have in going about your day, and they have a hill to climb.”
The group will be delivering the purses and helping with meals this week at shelters like The Irving Street Women’s Residence, Sintan Sanctuary and The Delores Project.
Boen said last year they delivered 70 purses to shelters. So far, more than three times the purses have been donated this year, totaling 240 purses to be handed out.
“We’re going to bring enough purses for each shelter and then some,” Boen said. “Then they will all draw numbers to pick in that order and they’ll get to choose a purse from the table that suits their style.”
The group said the women who join SHE Leads Group want to be members because of the culture of women supporting women in any way possible, and this annual community service project is just one of the many ways that SHE members are putting their goodwill into action.
Boen said they are already planning to do the purse project again next year.
“My hope is that it makes their heart so joyful that they received this purse and they know that we care,” Boen said. “That there’s this group of women that care about them and we want to make a difference in their life."
For more information, visit SheLeadsGroup.com.
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