MAYS LANDING - Atlantic County Sheriff Eric Scheffler has partnered with the Handbags for Homeless Women program to distribute career wear handbags to women in need.
Mays Landing resident Jennie Ayers and her partners in Handbags for Homeless Women provided the Sheriff's Office Hope I Program with 10 handbags to be distributed to women who need them.
Ayers, along with Jane Guerrier and Joanne Giosia, are the founders of the local chapter of Handbags for the Homeless Women Program, and they are collecting gently used bags for distribution.
Citizens throughout Atlantic County can donate the handbags, which are filled with personal care items and donated to women in need.
"This will not only help the homeless population, it will enable women graduating from the Hope I Program to attend job interviews or work with a beautiful handbag to store their necessities in," Scheffler said.
"It's all about self esteem and getting women to the next steps in their lives," Ayers said.
Jennie Ayres and Atlantic County Sheriff Eric Scheffler are collecting and distributing handbags to homeless women.
In addition to purses, the group is collecting items most women carry in their handbags, such as facial wipes, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, hair brushes, small first aid kits, hand sanitizer, mints and gum, notepads, lightweight snacks, etc. The group is also collecting personal care items such as shampoos and conditioners, razors and shaving cream, socks, hats, gloves, gift cards and inspirational books.
Handbags can be dropped off at the Sheriff's Office, 4997 Unami Blvd., in Mays Landing. There will be a box located in the lobby near the metal detectors.
For more information, contact Jennie Ayers at 609-226-5741, or the Hope I Program at 609-909-7200.
