LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Help Make Cinch Bags for Needy Men and Women


Photo provided

Twelve women of the Interfaith Women Circle 2, as part of Neighbor to Neighbor initiative of the Contra Costa Interfaith Council, wanted to do a small positive thing to offset some of the negative aspects in the world around them. So they decided to make purses for women without homes.

The women brought 12 items and they assembled them into purses and handed them off to women without homes in the streets to let them know they cared.

Then some of the women advertised at their work and on Nextdoor.com, and they received generous donations that filled 90 purses, which they gave to Trinity Center and women without homes living in Oakland.

They were inspired by the overwhelming positive response from the community and the generous donations. From the input from the shelters they found out that there is a need for men bags too and women do not prefer purses so they decided light draw string (cinch) bags will be great for both this year. The women also learned that the preferred word is not homeless, it is person without a home or person in transition, to give hope it is just a phase in their life.

The women will be making the cinch bags from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6 at the Walnut Creek Islamic Center, 2449 Buena Vista Ave., Walnut Creek. The cinch bags will be distributed to men and women without homes throughout Contra Costa and Alameda Counties.

The Interfaith Women Circle 2 is asking to spread the word to employers, friends and faith communities.

How to Help:

Bring your donated items (and a friend!) and join the fun in assembling cinch bags.

OR drop the items at 1 Kenmore Ct, Orinda or at Coldwell Banker, 5 Moraga Way, Orinda.

Items to Donate: Cinch bags, tooth brushes and toothpaste, hand/boot warmers, panchos, deodorant, travel-size lotion, sunscreen, disposable razors and shaving cream, flash lights and batteries, gloves, socks, warm hats and scarves, tee-shirts, feminine sanitary products, wipes/hand sanitizer (travel size), uplifting notes, soap, shampoo (travel size), nutritional bars, nuts, raisins, gum, leftover Halloween candy, Band-aids, lipstick/lip balm.