Special handbags warm the hearts and bodies of women
The Gift from the Heart handbag project for women has made a difference in the lives of less-fortunate women in the town.
LYDENBURG – The Gift from the Heart handbag project for women has made a difference in the lives of less-fortunate women in the town.
Some 76 women received handbags filled with toiletries, gifts and even small blankets for winter. The project was started last November by Kevin Ruthven, a Lydenburg resident in memory of his late mother.
The public was asked to contribute to the initiative by donating handbags and products that women needed on a daily basis. According to Ruthven his mother had three handbags, but she only used one. While he was at the local hospital he saw women using plastic bags as handbags.
“I never understood why my mom kept the handbags because she did not use them. That is when the thought struck me to start this project.”
Ruthven handed handbags to patients at Lydenburg Hospital two weeks ago and on Monday, January 18 he donated bags to elderly people of the Ly wil oordra denburg Ondersteuningsraad.
“The project was a great success; we even received handbags from as far as Rustenburg and Thabazimbi. The support of the public was overwhelming. I started a group on Facebook called “n Handsak uit die hart” to continue with the collecting of the handbags,” he said.
“I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the project and make my dream a reality in order to make a difference in somebody’s life. A special thank you to Susan du Plessis of ERA Real Estate, who supported me a lot.”
The Lydenburg Ondersteuningsraad’s social auxiliary worker, Ethresia van Staden, said they appreciated the contribution by Ruthven. “The elderly people were so happy to receive their bags. Many thanks to him for making the organisation benefit from the initiative,” she said.
