Grand Rapids Purse Project 2025

Denise Klesar, founder of Purse Project joins us to discuss how you can help those experiencing homelessness. 

More information can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/GRpurseproject

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is West Michigan's Morning News, Steve, Kelly, Brett, Kaita,
Laurence Smith. Sometimes nonprofits start from deeply personal origins, and
that's the case for Purse Project twenty twenty five, now
in its twelve year. Denise colasars in studio with us
this morning. How are you this morning, Denise?

Speaker 2 (00:19):
I am grateful, Steve. I am grateful to be here
in your studio again and to once again be doing
Purse Project.

Speaker 1 (00:28):
We need to talk a little bit about how it
all started though, and it is a personal story, but
it's so important for folks to know our degree of
separation from somebody that may need our help is a
lot closer than we think.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
Well, the purpose of Purse's Project is in memory of
my sister, who, if you have not heard the story,
died as a homeless person. And she had three things
in a purse. She had a picture of my two
year old son, she had a picture of Jesus, and
she had a FedEx envelope that I had seen her
money in a filthy, dirty purse. And when we received

(01:05):
that purse, of course, something like that sticks with you.
That how and how is it possible that this is
my sister's person. You know, how how did this happen?
And so what I want the homeless to see is
that we see you and that we can bring them
a little bit of joy. I co coordinate this project

(01:25):
with Marian and Sable of Sable pr and we decided
a few years ago that this is our Christmas, this
is our Christmas, and this is our gifts. So we
do it in a conjunction with Marge's Donut Den, who
is again graciously agreed to have that as a drop
off site. You can start dropping off today. I'm setting

(01:47):
up right after I leave the station, and you know,
all hour she is open, and then Monday we stay
there till seven to collect. So if you can't get
it there four am to four pm when March is
been on Monday, we're there till seven.

Speaker 1 (02:03):
The need is greater than ever, right, there are so
many more people that are unhoused or are close to
experience sitting something like that and could use to help.
So specifically, what do you need?

Speaker 2 (02:15):
Absolutely, so you know, we do four different things that
we focus on. So we focus on backpacks for men,
you know, and we have a list if you go
to the Purse Project Facebook page we have a list
of different things to give you ideas of what the
stuff in the backpack. We do purses for women, purses
or tots and there again we have a list. And

(02:36):
then we do pajamas. So we started this a few
years ago so that women at Dega Jay could have
a pair brand new paer in pajamas Christmas morning. Now
I think when they enter the shelter they may give
them the pajamas, but you know, new pairs of pajamas.
And then we got connected with a senior center all
the care resources and that's a community program for seniors.

(02:58):
It's a daycare center and we donate Bingo prices. So
if you're not into stuffing a backpack or a purse,
bring a pair of pajamas medium large, extra large and
op or bring Bingo prizes. And there again we have
a list, you know, like double A batteries, lotions, a

(03:19):
less shaving cream and shaver for the men. So it
serves both men and women. You know, I think we've
hit you know, both men and women with everything that
we do. But you can bring. One of the needs
that we have for our purses and toats is small
water bottles, gloves, We need gloves men and women's mittens
and gloves. So there were pajamas, snacks, chapsticks. Those are

(03:48):
some of the key things we'd like them all to have,
you know, even a notepad and pen. You know, you
can buy those little notepads and a pack of pens.
You can drop that off and we'll find a you know,
a toe to or a backpack or a purse to
stuff those and really quickly.

Speaker 1 (04:04):
Uh, Denise. What I love that you said is we
see you. We talk a lot about dignity and how
much that can help in someone being able to take
a journey out of homelessness. What have you seen with
that impact?

Speaker 2 (04:15):
Yeah, so I do know that these make a difference.
This is not something they expect, although you know we've
been doing it for you know, twelve years now, so
there is some excitement when we arrived. Like one time
we were doing our drop off to mal Trotter Ministries
and they saw us coming there, like the purses are here,
the persons are here. It's exciting, you know. When we

(04:35):
went dropped off at the shelter for men, it was like,
oh wow, we get something too. Usually it's just the
women that get something. I'm like, oh no, we haven't
forgotten you, you know, and then care Resources is very appreciative.
So we do know that we bring joy, right, and
Christmas is about joy and giving. As I said, this

(04:56):
is my Christmas to be able to give BA. It
should be remembered that many of the people that like
Degajay hosts, they're homeless, but they still work. Yeah, they
are working. I've gotten a tour of the shelter when
they first opened up their new facility which houses I
think one hundred now, it used to have only like

(05:17):
twenty beds, one hundred, and they're busy, they're working, and
they had their own little bed area, right, So if
we can give them some these are new purses and
new backpacks. We don't take used new purses and new backpacks.
So if we can bring just a little bit of
joy that you know, brings a smile to their face
and gives some hope. My sister had hope, right, I mean,

(05:39):
she had a picture of Jesus in her purse of
three things she had. One of the things she had
was a picture of Jesus. That just blows me away.
I mean, it's just amazing.

Speaker 1 (05:49):
You can find out more right now, at Facebook dot com,
slash grpurstart project. We'll put the link in the podcast
section at woodradio dot com. Denise Cola is our thank
you for all you're doing and for coming in today.

Speaker 2 (06:02):
Thank you. I'm very grateful, and thank to Marche Donut
Denver once again being a drop off site

Speaker 1 (06:07):
And having donuts and there it is