Trenton Soroptimists Offer Hope

Soroptimist International of Trenton Area collected basic hygiene and comfort items to pass on to women that really need them - those in homeless situations, and those that have escaped domestic violence or human trafficking.

Janelle Rose of Willow Tree in Wyandotte was the event chair for this service project. Requested items included any gently used totes or handbags, feminine products, soap, facial and skin care items, haircare items, grooming items, dental care items, and other miscellaneous items like manicure kits, socks, footies, books or magazines, makeup, non-perishable snacks, make-up, and Chapstick.

Several participating Downriver businesses were drop-off locations for the collected items. Helping the Soroptimists were All About Grace Boutique – Trenton, Bloom Salon & Aesthetics - Grosse Ile, Instinct Salon - Flat Rock, Motown Harley Davidson – Taylor, Sterling Hair Company – Taylor, and Willow Tree – Wyandotte.

The collected items were gathered, sorted, and organized into the totes and handbags at Provisions Wyandotte Event Center, which resulted in 266 assembled bags, with additional boxes and bags of bulk items. Two of the largest donations were bulk items, rather than bags. This year’s “Hope in a Handbag” project garnered at least three times as many items as last year’s 250 bags.

Distribution and delivery of the sorted handbags and totes were made in time for Mother’s Day to the following charities and locations: Covenant House Emergency Interim Housing, First Step, Christ Net, Stanford House, St. Cyprian Parish Pantry, Salvation Army, WayneWright Community Pantry, Gabriel Richard High School, Vista Maria, and Wyandotte Public Schools.

The Trenton Soroptimist organization meets on the fourth Tuesdays of the month. All women are welcome to attend. You may contribute to the foundations that the Soroptimists support on smile.amazon.com and krogercommunityrewards.com. If you are interested in learning more about the Trenton Area Soroptimists and our other activities, check out our page on Facebook@Soroptimist Trenton, MI or sioftrentonarea@gmail.com.