Handbags help domestic violence victims

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A handbag can carry a woman’s laptop, lip gloss, business cards, cellphone, and a number of other items, but can it save a life? The Texas Advocacy Project believes so.

With the Handbags for Hope project, the non-profit organization is teaming up with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office to get life-saving information in the hands of domestic violence victims through a handbag.

The organization is asking for donations of new or gently used handbags. The drive begins on Feb. 28 and ends on March 19. Purses can be dropped off at the Travis County Sheriff’s Office at 5555 Airport Blvd .

Once the bags have been collected, children staying in shelters will get to pick out a donated bag to gift to their moms on Mother’s Day. Each bag will contain a tag that has Texas Advocacy Project’s domestic violence hotline number and pamphlets to help victims stay safe.

Since its inception five years ago, the project has collected more than 13,000 bags.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the number of victims of domestic violence decreased from 212,106 in 2010 to 211,769 in 2011.

If you are a victim of domestic violence and need assistance, please call 1-800-374-HOPE.