Purses with a Purpose is Back this October!
We hope you are ready for Purses with a Purpose, a signature Shelter House event! Purses with a Purpose returns for the 12th year and will be held at the Maxine Orange Art & Design Gallery (21A Eglin Pkwy NE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548) October 20-22, 2022. Over the past decade, Purses with a Purpose has become a must-attend annual shopping experience for ladies across the Emerald Coast. Shoppers at Purses with a Purpose have the opportunity to select from hundreds of new and gently used purses, wallets, and accessories up for sale or auction. Gently used handbags will be available for immediate purchase during shopping hours, while the new and upscale brand handbags will be auctioned off through virtual bidding from Monday, October 16 through the close of the VIP event on Thursday, October 20 at 7:30 pm CST.
This year’s event kicks off with the Purses with a Purpose VIP event on Thursday, October 20th at the Maxine Orange Studio Gallery located in Fort Walton Beach. Attendees will enjoy bottomless beverages, light bites, entertainment and live access to the silent auction. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and tickets can purchased in advance for $50. This event will sell out, as space is limited!
Purses with a Purpose reopens to general admission on Friday, October 21st from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. for Handbags and Happy Hour. Tickets are $20 and guests will enjoy cocktails, light bites and entertainment as they shop a selection of handbags and accessories.
The event will reopen on Saturday, October 22nd from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with deep discounts on remaining merchandise. Complimentary mimosas and muffins will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and admission is free to all shoppers on Saturday.
Since its inception, Purses with a Purpose has raised more than $120,000 to support Shelter House’s critical services for domestic and sexual violence survivors. Shelter House accepts donations of new and gently-used handbags throughout the year, as well as numerous auction items from our generous community supporters. For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Shelter House at 850-243-1201 and/or sponsors@shelterhousenwfl.org
Aimee Shaffer, our 2018 SpokesPURSEn of the Year
Aimee Shaffer, our 2018-2019 Purses with a Purpose SpokesPURSEn of the year, is a ray of sunshine in our community. When she isn’t working for her pet sitting business, Aimee’s Animal Magnetism, you will find her spreading joy and volunteering in the community by emceeing for events or attending fundraisers to support causes near and dear to her heart.
Her love of volunteering goes all the way back to her childhood where she helped her mother with various charitable organizations. Her mother was a shining example of using your time, heart, and talents to help others. She was an avid volunteer who taught her daughter the importance of serving others. Sadly, her sweet mother passed away when Aimee was only 12 years old leaving her heartbroken and alone. Through volunteering, she is able to live out her God-given talents and preserve her mother’s legacy.
Aimee endured a lot of hardship and struggle in her life. She is a survivor of repeated domestic violence and came out of the horrible trauma with the help of good friends. There wasn’t a safe place for victims to go and seek help back then. Victims were made to feel ashamed and encouraged to be silent. Aimee is very passionate about the mission at Shelter House and volunteers her time to pay it forward to others. She believes everyone deserves to feel safe, be heard, and receive the help they need. Aimee became the 2018 SpokesPURSEn by raising the most money during Shelter House’s signature event, Purses with a Purpose. She was also inducted into the Okaloosa County Women’s Wall of Honor in 2010 and in 2014 was awarded Okaloosa County Women’s Hall of Fame for volunteering. She has been one of the best things to happen to our community.
Purses with a Purpose Raises Almost $20,000 for Shelter House
Money raised will help local domestic and sexual violence victims
(MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla.) April 8, 2016 – Women from across the Emerald Coast recently made their way to Grand Boulevard at Sandestin for Purses with a Purpose, a unique event benefiting Shelter House, the domestic and sexual violence center serving Okaloosa and Walton counties. The two-day event raised almost $20,000 to support programs and services such as a 24-hour rape and domestic violence hotline, emergency shelter, child advocacy, support groups and violence prevention classes.
“Since it began six years ago, Purses with a Purpose has brought in more than $73,000 for critical services,” said Rosalyn Iovieno, Shelter House Executive Director. “Not only did 300 shoppers attend this event, more than 40 Shelter House volunteers gave over 200 hours of their time to make it happen. We had more shoppers and raised more money than ever before. This tremendous support from the community enables us to help more women, children, men and pets whose lives have been touched by violence.”
The Friday night party offered shoppers the opportunity to bid on designer handbags from Kate Spade, Coach, Michael Kors and more. They were also treated to food from Travinia Italian Kitchen and wine as well as a purse fashion show with models impacted by domestic violence, including Shelter House advocates, volunteers and survivors. The fashion show was emceed by Laura Holloway of The Storyteller Agency and featured hair and makeup by Pin Up Girls Hair Studio and music by Rock the House.
In addition to over 1,000 purses for sale and auction, Purses with a Purpose also featured scarves, jewelry, wallets and more were up for sale. Saturday shoppers snapped up the remaining purses at deeply discounted prices while enjoying muffins and mimosas.
Shelter House would like to thank the 2016 Purses with a Purpose sponsors: Grand Boulevard at Sandestin, Pin Up Girls Hair Studio, Rock the House, Travinia Italian Kitchen, 5 Star Photo Booth, The Storyteller Agency, Appleseed Expeditions, Silver Sands Premium Outlets, Flip Flop Realty, Mara Fiorentino, MD, Primp Salon, Serenity by the Sea, Massage Envy and Panera Bread.
Shelter House accepts purse donations throughout the year at its program office located at 16 Ferry Road, SE in Fort Walton Beach. For more information about Purses with a Purpose or future events, please contact Shelter House at 850-243-1201.
Shelter House announces details for annual fundraiser, Purses With A Purpose
Fort Walton Beach, Fla. (February 8, 2016) – Shelter House Domestic & Sexual Violence Center will host their sixth annual Purses With a Purpose event March 11-12, 2016, in Grand Boulevard at Sandestin in the 560 building, corner storefront, next door to Altar’d State.
Festivities begin Friday at 6:00 p.m. with an exciting silent auction featuring over 100 purses, including brands like Kate Spade, Michael Kors and Vera Bradley, as well as sunglasses and other accessories. Attendees will also enjoy hors d’oeuvres by Travinia, wine, an interactive photobooth by 5 Star Photobooth, DJ services by Shane Keller of Rock the House and a fashion show featuring hair and makeup services by Pin Up Girls Hair Studio & Spa in Destin. Avid purse shoppers can purchase a VIP ticket to enter the event 30 minutes early (5:30 p.m.) for an exclusive preview of the silent auction and the opportunity to immediately purchase their handbag or accessory of choice before the event officially begins.
Tickets are now available on the Shelter House website, www.shelterhousenwfl.org. General admission tickets can be purchased in advance for $10 or at the door for $15. VIP tickets are $20 when purchased in advance, or $25 at the door, based on availability.
The fundraiser continues Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with free admission to view the remaining handbags and accessories, with discounts up to 50% off. Attendees will enjoy complimentary mimosas and fresh baked muffins.
To date, Shelter House has raised more than $50,000 through Purses With A Purpose. Shelter House is actively seeking sponsors and new or gently used handbags and accessories for the silent auction. Individuals or businesses interested should contact Whitney Lee Ladwig at 850-974-2002 or whitneyleeladwig@icloud.com.