By Ken Jarvis, San Antonio Area Media Specialist
The San Antonio Texas Hill Country Stake Relief Society Presidency, recognized a need in San Antonio to help the temporary residents of the Battered Women’s/Children’s Shelter. They found out from the director of the shelter that one of the many items needed at the shelter were purses filled with personal items that will help support them as they begin this new transition. Almost immediately, a request for assistance in this effort was sent to all women’s ministry leaders (Relief Society Presidents) in each congregation within the Stake boundaries to help collect “Handbags of Hope”.
In the request that was issued the San Antonio Texas Hill Country Stake Relief Society Presidency, stated that, “Along with ministering and loving the sisters in our wards, we have been given the opportunity to tend and care for the sheep of another fold, those being temporary residents of the Battered Women’s/Children’s Shelter.” The message went on to say that these women were in “…very desperate situations that have made them suddenly homeless and consequently sharing quarters with up to 100 other women who are trying to get a fresh start on life.”
Each congregation’s Relief Society, or women’s ministry, was asked to provide as many gently used or new purses as they could. In addition they were asked to fill each purse with the following items: a wallet, small mirror, hair ties, lip balm, feminine hygiene products, hand sanitizer, small notebook with pen, hand moisturizer, and socks.
The goal was to deliver them prior to Mother’s Day, a day that mothers are celebrated worldwide! The hope was “…to help make these ladies’ Mother’s Day be a little bit more special,” according to Cynthia Y. Miller, Stake Relief Society first Counselor.
Cindy Beattie, Stake Relief Society President, said that the goal was to have 100 filled purses delivered to Stake’s meetinghouse for the Fiesta celebration on April 22, 2023. “I’m delighted to announce that we were able to deliver over 200 filled purses to the shelter the following Monday,” Beattie said.