Women gather to raise funds for those in need
By Sarah Mansheim
On Wednesday night, 65 women gathered together to demonstrate the power of small-scale philanthropic giving at the second annual Power of the Purse event.
Hosted by United Way of the Greenbrier Valley, Power of the Purse is an event that allows women to donate a minimum of $25 and vote on how the funds will be used. The pot is sweetened by raffle drawings for actual handbags.
The event was held at Harmony Ridge Gallery, and food was provided by Stella, Bella the Corner Gourmet and Stardust Cafe. Purses were donated by Harmony Ridge Gallery, High Country Gallery, Wolf Creek Gallery, Serenity Now Outfitters, The General Lewis Inn Gift Shop, Lux de Ville and Rebekah Foster, Studio 40, The Dressmaker’s Closet in Charleston and the Greenbrier Episcopal School.
The event raised $3,730, with the average donation being $57. The top three projects selected to fund were Snacks in Packs, a program that sends food home with students who might not otherwise have food to eat, Greenbrier Valley nursing mothers, and lights for the Eastern Greenbrier Middle School soccer field.
