WYOMING, Mich. — As cars whiz by on 28th Street, a decent pile of brand new purses is forming on a table up front at the iconic Marge's Donut Den. Denise Kolesar is sorting through the purses, making sure they're all ready to go - stuffed with essentials for people experiencing homelessness.
The "Purse Project" has been an annual mission for Denise since 2013. At the time, it was a small effort to provide purses to women who came to a downtown Grand Rapids church for food.
"Then we connected with Safe Haven Ministries. Women who were escaping domestic violence would sometimes arrive without a purse, and so we started donating to them. And it just kind of grew from there," Denise said.
She began working with Mary Ann Sabo, who started having a purse party each November to kick off the Purse Project. The purses started to include essentials like blankets, snacks, toiletries, hand warmers, and feminine products, as well as other items like note pads and pens. Eventually the group started collecting backpacks for men. More and more organizations were getting involved.
"We've given over 1,398 stuffed purses, 571 backpacks, and 192 pairs of pajamas," Denise said.
The Purse Project hits close to home for Denise, because it's a tribute to her sister.
"Valerie had a very dynamic personality. She was very beautiful, and athletic and talented. And things just didn't go right for her in life. She ended up in California, and from there things didn't go right," Denise said.
"She ended up homeless, so we tried to bring her home, and she wouldn't come home. So she died there, back 30 years ago. It'll be 13 years ago in July. Nobody thinks it's going to happen in their family."
One of the things that struck Denise was the condition Valeries belongings were in when her family received them at the funeral home.
"I got a bag full of filthy clothing that was so thin, I don't even know how she wore it, and then a filthy dirty purse. And inside the purse, there were three things: I had sent her money in a FedEx envelope that was in there. She had a picture of Jesus, and she had a picture of my two year old son," Denise said.
"I thought this is probably something she looked at that gave her a smile, despite her circumstances. You know, that brought a little bit of joy to her heart, because she kept it. I mean, she had it for some time. Of all the things she didn't have in her purse, she had that."
Denise says Valerie was a giving person. She believes Valerie would think the Purse Project is a good way to remember her.
"It's pretty special. Because I think if my sister had just gotten even clean pajamas, or something. Her clothes were rags." Denise paused as her eyes filled with tears.
"I knew I was going to cry. It's pretty emotional. But then you see all the things that people have donated to make this project. And we're not a big corporation. This is just a personal project that we do. And it's turned out to be pretty significant."
The Purse Project will wrap up on Tuesday, December 5 with a community drop-off day that runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Marge's Donut Den. The following day, they'll be sorted and distributed to people in need at Degage Ministries and Mel Trotter Ministries.
New purses or totes may be filled with:
- Kleenex
- Small water bottles
- Hand sanitizer
- Miniature sizes of lotion
- Body wash
- Warm socks
- Hats and scarves
- Mittens
- Snack bars
- Hand warmers
- Small blankets
- Chap stick
- Hygiene products
- Personal care products
- Notepads and pens
New backpacks may be filled with:
- Hats
- Gloves
- Socks
- Bodywash/soap
- Wet ones
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Kleenex
- Lotion
- Small water bottles
- Hand warmers
- Snacks
- Lip balm
- Handkerchiefs
- Canned food with pop-open lids
- Mechanical pencils
The Purse Project is also collecting pajamas for women sizes large and up for women at Degage Ministries, and bingo prizes for seniors that include: AA batteries, pens, picture frames, playing cards, perfume, puzzles, hair accessories, shaving cream.
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