Handbags to Help Heal

Past District Governor Leanne Jaggs, of the Rotary Club of Manukau Sunrise Inc., grabbed the Handbags to Heal idea after reading an article in Rotary Down Under about a club undertaking a similar project. Leanne thought it was a great idea her club could try as a new project. After approaching members with the idea of clearing out their wardrobes and finding near new handbags that they could fill with goodies for women in need, she sent an e-mail out to all clubs to do the same thing, offering pick-ups for any clubs that needed it.

“Using Rotary Foundation district grants, the club was able to purchase many goods for the bags and it has now become an annual project, helping Women’s Refuge and members of local women’s groups who need help getting back to feeling better about themselves.”

What started as a 20-30 handbag project, quickly turned into something bigger than Ben-Hur. So many clubs donated handbags and goods to put in them that soon the Rotary Club of Manuaku Sunrise had more than 200 handbags. Using Rotary Foundation district grants, the club was able to purchase many goods for the bags and it has now become an annual project, helping Women’s Refuge and members of local women’s groups who need help getting back to feeling better about themselves.

Packing the bags is one of the club’s highlights during the Rotary year.