Project Purse

Indy Chamber News Archives

The Indy Chamber is excited to partner with local philanthropic organization, Project Purse Indianapolis (PPI), during our annual Women in Business Retreat on February 11^th and 12^th at the Conrad in downtown Indianapolis. 

Women attending the retreat are encouraged to donate gently-used purses and products to “pack the purses” at PPI’s “reverse purse parties” that are then donated to ladies in need across the area. Products needed include travel-sized shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, hand sanitizer, Vaseline, cotton swabs, lip balm, feminine hygiene products, gloves, and socks.

“What we’re doing is not only providing essential goods for those need but also creating an easy, fun way for compassionate women to give back, together. I’ve held purse parties with coworkers at the office, youth sports teams, and at peoples’ houses with their friends and families,” says PPI Founder, Chelsea Marburger. “To see women come together for other women in need is a beautiful, humbling experience.”

Project Purse Indianapolis currently delivers packed purses to homeless shelters and outreach organizations in the area. In addition to basic necessities and beauty products, each purse contains a pink envelop and card.

“It was important to me that the ladies receiving these packed purses knew that it was done with love and care – not as an afterthought or something that was just thrown together. These cards are full of love, words of affirmation, and words of hope. For some, that card may be the most important thing in the purse,” says Marburger.

PPI will continue to provide for shelters and other assistance centers but hopes to expand to other organizations in need. If you have a demonstrated need for this type of service, please reach out to Project Purse Indianapolis at [email protected].

There is still time to register for the Women in Business Retreat! Visit www.indychamber.com/wibretreat today!

Project Purse Indianapolis is an Indianapolis-based, women-focused philanthropic organization that collects gently used purses and packs them with basic necessities and beauty products for women in need across in Indianapolis.