Shelter House hosts most successful Purses with a Purpose to date

The eighth annual event raises over $20,000 to go directly towards supporting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Okaloosa and Walton counties.

Shelter House’s signature event, Purses with a Purpose, returned to Grand Boulevard March 22-24, 2018. This year’s event was the most lucrative year since the event’s inception in 2010, raising over $20,000 for Shelter House.

Hundreds of women gathered Thursday night at Grand Boulevard to peruse the expansive silent auction of hundreds of new and gently designer handbags and accessories while enjoying craft beer donated by Grayton Beer Company, cocktails from Timber Creek Distillery and enjoying hors d’oeuvres from Grimaldi’s Pizzeria and Another Broken Egg in Sandestin. Designer brands that were featured in the auction included Valentino, Prada, Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Dooney & Bourke, Kate Spade, Dagne Dover, Sorrelli, and more. Other sponsors included Silver Sands Premium Outlets, Appleseed Expeditions, Insurance Zone, Allstate Insurance, ERA Agent Marsha Babe, Spa 98, Wesley, McGrail & Wesley and Kilwin’s.

B-Boy Productions brought the fun for the evening, with DJ Josh Woeckener. DJ30A provided a fun photo booth complete with props and accessories sponsored by Stubbs Orthodontics. Four local ladies were honored as a “SpokesPURSEn” for Shelter House. SpokePURSEns included Aimee Shaffer, Jen Deeb, Erin Igram and Mara Clark, all local business women who have continually shown support for Shelter House’s mission. They each raised money for weeks before the event. The ladies were treated to a luxurious visit to Pin Up Girls Hair Studio Thursday afternoon to have their hair and makeup done for the VIP Party that evening. Aimee Shaffer was named “SpokesPURSEn of the Year” for raising over $1200 alone for Shelter House.

Purses with a Purpose reopened on Friday, March 23 for “Handbags and Happy Hour” for guest to enjoy cocktails while shopping through the handbag selection that remained after the auction. Saturday, March 24th Purses with a Purpose opened early, where attendees enjoyed muffins, donated by Panera Bread, mimosas and deep discounts on all remaining bags and accessories! Since its inception, Purses with a Purpose has raised more than $110,000 to support Shelter House’s critical services for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors in Okaloosa and Walton counties. Shelter House accepts donations of new and gently used handbags throughout the year. For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Shelter House at sponsors@shelterhousenwfl.org.

About Shelter House

Shelter House, Inc. is the state certified domestic and sexual violence center serving Okaloosa and Walton counties and offering emergency confidential shelter, crisis counseling, a 24-hour hotline, children’s programs, information and referrals, education, professional training, safety planning and prevention services to survivors of domestic violence and their children and sexual violence survivors. Help is available 24/7. If you feel that a family member or intimate partner is endangering your physical or emotional safety or if you know someone experiencing this in their home, call Shelter House’s domestic violence hotline at 1-800-44-ABUSE or 850-863-4777. If you or someone you know has survived a sexual assault, call Shelter House’s sexual assault helpline at 850-226-2027.