Purse Power from Woodbury

Ask any woman what kinds of things she carries in her purse... and then be prepared for a long list. Some are necessities such as a wallet or a set of keys; others might be items that defy explanation like a worn-out tube of lipgloss or a set of math flashcards.

No matter the size of the bag or whatever might be found inside, a woman's purse is a lifeline to her daily routine, which is why the Twin Cities East chapter of Mothers & More—a non-profit organization supporting mothers in a variety of different ways—is holding its second annual drive throughout Washington County during the month of May. (Communities include Woodbury, Stillwater, Lake Elmo, Oakdale and others.)

The organization's goal is to collect new or gently used purses for clients of Tubman, the state's largest multi-service domestic violence agency serving women, children and families. For women who have been involved in abusive situations, a new purse is symbolic of the steps they are beginning to take to move away from financial or emotional crisis.

The purse also represents the impact today's mothers have on the economic well-being of their families. According to statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor, women serve as either the primary or joint wage earner in more than 60 percent of families with children under the age of 18.

Last year, the local chapter of Mothers & More collected more than 700 bags, a number which surprised Dee Kauffman, project manager for the community Power of a Purse drive. (Mothers & More chapters across the country hold similar collections.)

"Since last year was our first year doing this, I was just hoping we'd reach 100 purses, so it was very exciting to exceed that number," she said. "I'm looking forward to what happens this year."

Prior to delivering the purses to staff  at Tubman Center East in Maplewood, Kauffman said she and other Mothers & More members gathered up the purses from the various collection boxes located throughout the community and laid them out on the front lawn of her home for a photo.

"There were so many different kinds—from evening bags to diaper bags to the type of purse a woman would need for a job interview," said Kauffman. "Visually, it was sort of an amazing sight."

, owned by Renee Nelson, is one of the community partners for Power of a Purse; last year, the company raised $500 to help support Tubman. Nelson and several participants in jazzercise classes accompanied Kauffman to Tubman last year when the purses were dropped off.

"Renee is so passionate about this cause and has really embraced the mission," said Kauffman.

Aimee Pelletier of Darn Knit {Anyway}, a yarn and knitting shop in Stillwater, is another local business owner back on board for the second year as a partner supporting Power of a Purse with Mothers & More.

"Our customer demographic is mainly women, so any cause we support needs to be driven by women," she said. "We've become such a community gathering place, so it seems like a great project for us."

During the Power of a Purse drive, the store will offer 20 percent off the price of a new purse—handmade by local artists—if the customer brings in a purse to donate.

"Not only can you support this cause, but you can also support local artists, so we think that's pretty cool," said Pelletier.

From now through June 1, bright green collection boxes can be found at several local businesses, including Woodbury Jazzercise and in Woodbury; Darn Knit {Anyway} and Pure Yoga in Stillwater and Whatnot Boutique in Lake Elmo. (Other sites and addresses are listed on www.mothersandmoretce.org.)

From 7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4, Mothers & More will host an Empowered Purse open house at their regular meeting location, Oak Meadows, located at 8131 Fourth St. N. in Oakdale. There will be a free presentation on financial literacy open to all women interested in learning more about the role money plays in their everyday lives.

For more information about the local Mothers & More chapter or Power of a Purse,  visit their website. Check out the Mothers & More-Twin Cities East Facebook page for updates on the purse collection throughout the month of May.