Understanding Works NFP
Teaching History, Compassion, Kindness and more
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Purses & Other Random Acts of Kindness ... Team Work Makes the Dream Work
Purses With Purpose:
Make sure your donated purse is gently used in good shape (no holes and the zipper still works) and there's nothing inside (no used Kleenex (yucky). Here's ideas of what to put inside before you donate: Deodorant, Hand Sanitizer, Kleenex, Tampons/Pads, Toothbrush/Toothpaste, Hand Lotion, Bar of soap/Body Wash, Shampoo/Conditioner, Lipstick or Chap stick, Fingernail Clippers, Nail File, Hair Brush, Hair Ties, Make Up, New or gentlyused book, Candy, Mints, Chewing Gum, Mittens/Gloves, Scarf (can be tied on purse handles), etc.
Suggestions Where to Donate:
Homeless Shelters, Alternative Schools, Unplanned Pregnancy Centers, Food Pantries, Refugee Services, Safe Homes, etc.
 Purses With Purpose on the News |  Deb Bowen, in the Quad City Times photoDeb Bowen, in the Quad-City Times photo studio, holds up a number of purses ready to be donated. |  Lorraine's Grandson MichaelYoungest grandson Michael didn't get a chance to meet her since cancer took her too soon. But he has delivered many purses to homeless shelters in her memory. |
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 Man BagsLev from Ukraine filled a man bag with useful items and gave to a Native American who is living in his car. |  Beautiful DonorsI can't do it without wonderful people who believe in my mission. A big thank you to Jamie Heymann whose company donated $625 to Love Like Lorraine. God bless you American Marketing & Publishing! Unless otherwise stated, donations made to Love Like Lorraine will go toward the items we place in the purses. All empty purses are donated, not purchased. |  Heart of Hope MinistriesThank you letter for purses distributed in May of 2018: "Love Like Lorraine has brought so much pleasure to each lady receiving those beautiful bags! It's not just the purses, but all the wonderful surprises inside, expressions of love and care that give added value and joy to the receiver." Lynda Sargent Heat of Hope Ministries |
 Pregnancy ResourcesHundreds of purses have been given to struggling single mothers. |  Refugees and DaughtersInternational Day of the Woman 2018 - Moline IL Love Like Lorraine partnered with World Relief and the Jewish Federation of the QC to present a program to refugee women and their daughters. A lite lunch was served and all women (young and old) received a purse. The little ones also got to pick out a princess dress. Event was held at the Deere mansion so many girls thought they were in a castle. A fun way to Love Like Lorraine. |  Back to School BagsThese bags were filled by children in a Vacation Bible School and given to Love Like Lorraine. Contents were personal hygiene items for both young men and women. Amy Rowell at World Relief gave them to refugee students as they went back to school. |
 Vacation Bible SchoolChildren collected items to fill draw string bags for those less fortunate. Bags were given to refugee students in the Quad Cities. |  Grandkids are GrandIt's fun filling bags by yourself, better with students and BEST with your own granddaughters! |  Helpers NeededBoth Sharon Taylor (left) and Kathryn Bohn (right) are widows of WWII veterans. They make it a point to help at Love Like Lorraine events. If you decide to host an event, you will find amazing community members to help too! |
 Spring Hats for Beautiful GirlsProvided purses, a meal and program for refugee women and their daughters. Spring 2019 |  From Broken to BeautifulDeb volunteers occasionally at a safe house where women were once addicted and/or sex trafficked. They asked for help getting them ready to attend a gala fundraising event in Chicago. They needed dresses, purses, jewelry, make up, hair, and shoes. All of these items and services were donated by amazing people. These women walked into that event with their heads held high. They have great hearts and are learning their lives have great value. They are truly moving from broken to beautiful. |  Sending hopeFront of card we put in purses |
 Deb Bowen & Paula SandsPaula Sands Live show inspired people to fill hundreds of purses. December 2017 |  My beautiful MamaHere's the little gal who started the purse project by modeling love. The adorable Lorraine. She raised eight children, Deb was her youngest, and worked hard as a farm wife. Many women would come to her kitchen table to talk about their life struggles. She had a loving heart. "Love Like Lorraine for Kids" is currently being written and illustrated by a student in Iowa. |  Lorraine's Great GranddaughtersMany of Lorraine's great-grandchildren didn't get a chance to meet her. So thankful we can share her heart with these beautiful sisters. Missing from the photo: Sydney Lorraine. |
 Burlington IowaSisters fill teens purses for girls in need. |  EncouragementBack of card we put in purses |  Happy Customers |
Facebook Post on Mother's Day 2018
"I’m smiling because Lorraine inspired a woman named Amber Grizzo to fill and donate purses to a local food pantry at a Catholic Church. It was in celebration of International Day of the Woman so I imagine many of their clients are refugees. I got a thank you in the mail for starting the purse Project saying “they were thrilled to get them”. 💞
Thanks goes to Amber for her labor of love and the lives she touched. My mother, Lorraine, passed away just days after Mother’s Day in May of 1994. Because I watched her serve her family, her community and be loving and kind to those less fortunate, I learned by example.
I donated thirty plus purses myself to teen moms this past week and prayed these recipients would each have a mentor in their lives to lead by example. Every child deserves a good mother but often that’s not the case."
Be like Amber and her group and fill some gently used purses with things you know women would love. Then find your mission opportunity. Women love to get these purses any time of year but Mother's Day will always be special to me. Many women don't get acknowledged on this day. You have the power to change that!
This world could use a lot more love, like Lorraine did.