Harvest Home women gather to make handbags for residency program
When Tracy Brown gets together with other women for the Lydia's Purse program, it brings her back to the days when she used to sew with her grandmother.
Brown, a resident of the Harvest Home women's shelter, meets with volunteers and others weekly to pore over patterns, thread and sewing machines to create handbags for the residency program, which is the women and children's division of Haven of Rest Ministries. And during this time, the line between homeless resident, volunteer and staff blur into a truly communal experience.
“We get to know each other; everybody’s not alone,” said Brown.
Candace Talty -- house supervisor, social worker and case manager – refers to Lydia’s Purse as an enrichment program for Harvest Home residents. Volunteers who help run the classes are “spiritual mentors” for the ladies, teaching them sewing skills and helping them create something productive, she added.
“Once they finish their bags, they can continue in the program,” said Talty. “We end up selling the bags at times, and the profit goes back to the Harvest Home.”
Over the past year of the program’s operation, the residents have enjoyed the weekly get-togethers, said Talty, who describes the atmosphere as “laid back.”
“This is not a structured class like some of the other classes they have,” she said.
Volunteer Sharon Morris said Lydia’s Purse is a much more interactive experience than working at a place like a soup kitchen. “I’m passing on sewing skills, but you’re also developing a friendship,” said Morris, who has a background in social work. “I see women who are shy and insecure being able to feel confident about something and feel good about themselves and very hopeful that they can grow.”
Lydia's Purse harkens back to sewing and knitting circles and other women’s social activities that brought them closer together, Morris added. In one particular case, Morris said she found herself asking one of the participants for help making handbags, and they’ve since maintained a friendship after the resident left the program.
Sasha Robinson, a resident of Harvest Home, just started attending the program, but is still developing her sewing skills. “I really am interested in sewing and I’m hoping I can do more with it,” she said.
Brown reiterates the importance of the program and of the Haven of Rest’s multitude of services. “If it wasn’t for the Haven of Rest, I would be on the street today.”
The handbag patterns are made by Maryann Designs, and the bags can be found at area businesses like the Market Path in Highland Square, as well as Janet Rhodes, located in Hudson. According to the designer, 75 percent of the sales go to the Harvest Home.
