Crisis Nursery Collects Over 400 Purses for Struggling Moms

Years ago, the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery staff noticed that some moms were carrying a grocery sack rather than a purse when dropping their children off at a Nursery. Wallet, Kleenex, personal items, all in a plastic or paper bag.

The Crisis Nursery set out to change that and launched Eat. Shop. Love. “We want our moms to feel good about themselves, and a new purse can help with that. With the right purse, a woman can hold her head up and walk proudly into any situation." Said DiAnne Mueller, CEO of the Crisis Nursery.

The Nursery asks supporters to bring gently used handbags filled with toiletries, lotions, gift cards and gas cards and even gently used accessories. The Crisis Nursery distributes them to moms who not only need a new purse but also need to feel cared for and supported. This year Eat. Shop. Love. was held April 7 at Plaza Frontenac where the Nursery collected over 400 handbags and $1000.

Rev. Fran Pieper attends Eat. Shop. Love. every year. “The Crisis Nursery does such a great job supporting families, and Eat. Shop. Love. is a wonderful way to make sure moms know that someone is thinking of them. As women, we need to lift each other up,” Rev. Pieper said.

This year Eat. Shop. Love. was held Thursday, Feb. 8 in the north court at Plaza Frontenac. Sponsored by Canyon Cafe, Kendall Scott, Stonewater Spa, Lilly Pulitzer, Eat. Shop. Love. offered free appetizers, wine, a silent auction, a Michael Kors purse raffle and, to everyone’s delight, an impromptu performance by St. Louis vocal musician, Levance Madden. Marissa Hollowed, co-anchor of News 4 This Morning on KMOV, hosted the event. She said, “I love this event and I love the work the Crisis Nursery is doing for our community.”

About the Crisis Nursery: The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery provides a 24-hour, 365 days/year safe haven for children, birth through age 12, whose families are facing a crisis. Parents bring children to the Nursery free of charge, on a voluntary basis where they receive a medical exam, therapeutic activities, nutritious meals and take-home necessities. Parents receive crisis counseling, in-home visits, parent educational groups and community outreach. In 32 years we have served over 110,000 children. For more details on the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery, please call 314-292-5770 or visit www.crisisnurserykids.org