Our Mission
Purses for a Purpose lends a helping hand(bag) by collecting purses and travel-sized toiletries to distribute to unhoused women, refugee women, and survivors of domestic violence across the United States and internationally. Our mission is to restore dignity, affirm women's inherent worth, and provide them with the essentials that foster confidence, strength, and empowerment.
We partner with nonprofits and NGOs to ensure the safe delivery of our purses to women experiencing housing insecurity across the nation and around the world.
About Us
Inspired by a Facebook ad, our CEO, Shayna Rutman, together with her father and our Legal Compliance Officer, Keith Rutman, set out to give back to women in need.
Since 2019, we have been collecting gently used mid-sized handbags and purses, filling them with donated travel-sized toiletries, and distributing them to unhoused and housing-insecure women and girls.
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We are deeply grateful for your continued support in helping us restore dignity and hope!
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Our Vision
Our team strives to raise awareness about the ever-growing homelessness crisis and intersectional gender-based violence.
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Donors can repurpose their unused bags while reflecting on the importance of daily luxuries and accessibility to essential items.