Purses With a Purpose! “Giving is Gratifying Beyond Belief”

By Jessica Parsons

It’s a cool Sunday in December in a small parking lot in Cave Creek, AZ. With a brisk breeze and a bright sun, it’s already hot before 9 a.m. The air is thick with laughter, excitement, and bubbling energy as a handful of take-charge volunteers set up tables, unload bins, count purses, and share hugs.

In the midst of it all—directing the purpose and her group of go-givers—is the petit and cheerful Patricia Brusha, founder of the nonprofit Purse Impressions.

On this day last year, they were stuffing purses, an event now in its fifth year. This year’s purse- stuffing will be held Sunday, December 15, 2024, with donations ramping up and preparations already underway—something Patricia has vowed to devote her life to.

“Giving and doing something kind and thoughtful for someone besides yourself is gratifying beyond belief,” Patricia shares in a recent conversation about her life’s new mission. “It also gives me the opportunity to talk about my daughter and feel like I’m with her every day.”

Patricia’s Purse Impressions journey began five years ago, after her only child, Courtney passed away. “Courtney was a beautiful, funny, pretty girl,” says Patricia. “But Courtney had a problem with drinking.”

At just 28 years old, Courtney was diagnosed with stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver. After nearly six months of sobriety and one week from being placed on a transplant list, Courtney suddenly and tragically lost her battle.

“At her memorial I was in such shock, I really didn’t know what to do,” Patricia recalls as she reflects on Courtney’s rehab days — the catalyst for Purse Impressions. “She had been in and out of rehab, and whenever she’d get out, she’d call me and say, ‘Mom, can you get me a purse? They give you a plastic bag to walk out with, but it’s not a good first impression of my new life.’ Being the jokester I am, I said, ‘So you want to make a good purse impression?’ That’s how we got the name.”

A Purse—Symbol of Dignity for Women

“These purses are more than donations—they are Patricia’s way of honoring her daughter’s memory.”

Recognizing the need, Courtney and Patricia started collecting purses for other rehab graduates. These purses would soon become a symbol of dignity. “The purse is a beacon of hope for these individuals,” explains Patricia. “They don’t have anything to hold their stuff in. It’s something that makes them feel pretty and seen. We just wanted them to know somebody cared about them.”

At Courtney’s memorial, in lieu of flowers, Patricia asked for purses to continue what they had started. She received 400 purses. “People just walked in with purses—piles and bags of purses.”

Soon, she found herself storing hundreds of gently loved and like-new purses in her home, filling them with snacks, makeup, jewelry, and hygiene products. She then connected with rehab facilities to reach this underserved population.

The Crossroads Inc., a licensed residential and outpatient substance use treatment program, was the first organization to partner with Patricia. “I prepared a dozen purse samples, drove down, and just walked in,” she remembers, laughingly at her boldness. “They said, they were just talking about doing a purse drive. It was one of those serendipitous moments.”

Program Mentor of Crossroads, Donna Alexander recalls their first meeting. “There was an immediate connection, like kindred spirits,” she says. “Patricia told me what she wanted to do, and I said absolutely.”

From the start, Donna understood that these purses were more than just donations—they were Patricia’s way of honoring her daughter’s memory and legacy. Donna was eager to help.

“I explain to all the ladies where the purses come from and it always brings tears to their eyes when they hear how the painful loss of a child can turn into something positive for hundreds of people,” says Donna.

Eventually, Patricia received so many purses through her network and word of mouth that she opened a boutique in Cave Creek. Here, she sells purses and jewelry to collect funds for purse stuffers, with 100% of the proceeds going back into her 501(c)(3) charity.

Community Bridges would soon join in, along with the Arizona Women’s Recovery Center, Hushabye Nursery and about a dozen other substance use programs across Arizona and other states.

“Most of these women have never owned anything like this before,” explains Donna. There are just not enough words to express the gratitude I feel for Patricia and First Impressions.”

Two years ago, Patricia expanded her program to support children whose parents are in rehab with back-to-school items and a holiday toy drive. Later, she added men, providing backpacks, grooming and hygiene kits. “The feedback that I get is, they can’t believe someone cares. It means a lot for their self-esteem,” says Patricia.

Over the years, Patricia and her volunteers have donated more than 6,000 purses and backpacks, and 800 back-to-school backpacks and diaper bags filled with necessities.

“I decided that God and Courtney were telling me something with all of this.” While working on her own sobriety—and today, six years sober—Patricia continues to feel a personal and profound connection to offer hope and worthiness in this special way—with no plans of slowing down. “This work and my volunteers make me feel wonderful. It feels like the same kind of love I have for my daughter.”

Learn more at: http://www.Purse-Impressions.com or call (602) 814-6679