FOR many women, a handbag is among their prized possessions, but for those fleeing domestic violence or suffering homelessness, it is often a precious item left behind or lived without.
Millicent Community Learning Centre (MCLC) student Tara McNicol is on a mission to create change and give women in hardship something special to treasure – a handbag full of essential items, love and care.
The 19-year-old plans to make a total of 60 handbags and fill them with “useful goodies” including toiletries, sanitary items, food and coffee vouchers, cosmetics and other gifts.
Ms McNicol will donate them locally to services helping domestic violence victims, people experiencing homelessness and those in financial hardship.
Picture: BROOKE LITTLEWOOD
“I received one of these bags last year from the MCLC after going through a very tough time in my life,” Ms McNicol said.
“After receiving one of these handbags, I was really happy and overjoyed.
“I decided to prepare more of these handbags and donate them to help services that help others in their time of need.
“I want other women going through tough times to feel what I felt when I was given the bag.”
Ms McNicol is now calling on the community to support the project and donate to the cause.
Donations of handbags, as well as items including soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, hair brushes and sanitary products are all welcome.
“These are care packages and these are items people will need,” she said.
“Some of the other things I would suggest like vouchers, positive quote cards and goodies are just bonuses to put in the bags.
“People can donate a bag that is already full, if they did that it does not take anything away from me.
“It is what they have done to help and I appreciate it no matter what.”
MCLC youth worker Thea Clough said Ms McNicol was a hardworking, caring, giving beautiful young lady who will make the project happen.
“From my point of view, to see Tara strutting that handbag on her shoulder today, that’s special,” she said.
“One thing about her is that she does have a huge heart and her volunteer work just blows me away, this is just another feather in the cap for helping the community.
“From now we need to reach out to the community to work out what we can get donated.
“We need necessities for women that sometimes they might not actually be able get because their finances put them on the back burner.
“Every donation counts, big or small.
“Even if people want to donate $10 or something, we can use that to purchase goods.”
The handbags will be made as part of Ms McNicol’s Duke of Edinburgh bronze medallion plan as a service to community.
Following on from this, she plans to produce 60 toiletry bags for men.
“I thought I should do an equal amount of toiletry bags to handbags,” she said.
“It’s only fair because men go through things as well, it’s not like women are the only ones who suffer in life.”
People willing to donate handbags should do so as soon as possible to help Ms McNicol’s planning.
Any donations of essential items will be taken up until November 30 before the bags will be presented to identified services by December 15.
Donations should be delivered to the front desk at the Millicent Community Learning Centre and Millicent High School.
