Online, In-Person Event to Benefit Local Domestic Violence Survivors

Safe Passage Inc.'s annual Handbags 4 Hope event will be held August 22.

(Batesville, Ind.) - The 11th annual signature summer fundraiser event for Safe Passage, Handbags 4 Hope, will be held online and in person Aug. 22 at RomWeber Party Place in Batesville.

All proceeds go to benefit Safe Passage, the domestic and sexual violence shelter and support service provider that serves Dearborn, Ohio, Franklin, Ripley, Switzerland and Jefferson Counties. All services, including shelter, are free and confidential. On average Safe Passage serves 1300 victims and their children a year. Tickets cost $20 to attend, and include heavy appetizers, a complimentary wine ticket, dessert, and opportunities to participate in an exclusive paper bidding auction in addition to the online one. There’s also an in-person raffle featuring gently used purses and gift certificates, $10 Vera Bradley table and Vases for Victims (customized vases $10 to $30). New this year is a Party Purse Plus table, where for $25 you can select a cocktail or evening purse and a bottle of wine. Tickets are limited and may be purchased online at the link below or by mail to Safe Passage, H4H, PO Box 235, Batesville, IN 47006

The H4H event is held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 22. “The evening out is a perfect chance to meet up with your friends, do a little shopping and support a worthy cause,” said Mary Mattingly, Community Outreach Director for Safe Passage. An inspiring video of a local survivor’s journey for a safer, healthier lifestyle and how Safe Passage and the community supported her will debut at the event.

For those unable to attend, there is no fee to register online to view and/or bid on 40+purses online. Over 60 new and gently used handbags, totes and bags, will be up for this year’s auction. Guest may view the purses online once registered, but can also check out a mini display at the Batesville Library in early August.

On this year’s auction block, there are over 40 new designer bags, such as Coach, Gucci, Vera Bradley, Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Lily Pulitzer, Kate Spade, Dooney and Bourke, Rebecca Minkoff and a vintage Louis Vuitton. Over two dozen are new designer bags, but there are many new but not high end designer brands. “The purses are awesome this year! There’s something for everyone…lots of styles, sizes and colors.” Mattingly said. Many of the gently used purses are filled with gift certificates donated from local businesses in the 6 county district.

This year’s event sponsors are: Batesville Area Ministerial Association, Big Four Café, RomWeber Party Place, Community Church-Batesville and host Batesville Christian Church. Over 100 businesses and individuals have either donated purses or gift certificates and items for the H4H event. Follow Safe Passage’s Facebook page for updates at www.facebook.com/helphealinghope. Pastor John Vadeboncoeur with Community Church-Batesville returns as emcee. The auction will close at 6 p.m. Aug. 22. To register, go to the website www.safepassageinc.org and click on the flyer, follow the prompts to sign up or sign up at this link: http://bidpal.net/handbags2023. For those winning bidders not present at the event, please make arrangements to pick up your item by emailing mmattingly@safepassageinc.org or stop by Amack’s Well Wednesday, Aug. 23 from 11 to noon.