Chicago based non profit gives dignity & hope to women in need

Maria Castro recalls a conversation with a friend during the pandemic.

Domestic violence was on the rise and women's shelters were low on supplies.

"We were in the middle of the pandemic and a lot of women's shelters were locked down and there were a lot of women also stuck at home with their abusers who sought out a safe place. My friend told me they needed supplies so I ordered some on Amazon and put them in a plastic bag. Then I thought to myself: a plastic bag ? That looks terrible so I ordered six purses and stuffed all the supplies in there," she recalled.

In 2021, she bought six purses and and stuffed them with personal care items; everything from shampoo, to soap to hygiene products and donated them to women's shelters.

"If you're a woman and you have to leave in the middle of then night, you have nothing. You need soap, you need shampoo, wash rags and now you don't have that and the shelter can't provide that right now, so what do you ?"

A simple act of kindness, turned into movement and a mission.

"I said to my husband; these purses are so cute. I even put an inspirational note inside each of them: you are beautiful, you matter. I said 'this is like a little love purse. Wait, that's it: Love Purse it's a campaign. Wait, that's it, it's going to be called Love Purse!' and I put it out on social media #lovepurse and the word spread quickly." she smiled. "Soon enough I had other people who wanted to donate, give money and I had other shelters reach out to me about the idea."

Castro is the founder and CEO of Love Purse a nonprofit that collects purses, fills them with toiletries and a note of inspiration, and then donates them to shelters and safe havens for women in need, who are often escaping dangerous situations such as domestic violence or human trafficking.

Castro says for many of these women, basic items are difficult to access. Love purse meets the need and delivers a message of dignity and hope.

"Every single woman deserves that. At the end of the day, that's what we provide. When we think about how it started, it was homelessness, then trafficking, and then domestic violence but now we're helping women who are going through cancer treatment. They need head wraps, journals they need different contents in the purse than someone who is homelessness. Moms who've lost loved ones to violence, very content as well. It's any woman who needs a little bit of loved," she smiled.

Love Purse is now in 13 countries and 15 cities. Corporations and companies of all sizes hold purse stuffing parties--all destined for domestic violence shelters and other women in need.

"We did an event with Allstate and Southwest Airlines, even The Girl Scouts where hundreds of purses are stuffed. Everyone puts their own personal note of inspiration into the purses. People love to know that their purse when to one single woman in need. We also have people who have prosecco and purses, pooches and purses, all kinds of different parties and events where everyone can be involved and a difference."

Love Purse is now in 13 countries and 15 cities. Corporations and companies of all sizes hold purse stuffing parties--all destined for domestic violence shelters and other women in need. The Angel Ambassador

"So many of my friends reached out and wanted to do their part. It was amazing. Everyone wanted to keep it going and I really didn't think it would become a non profit until people started giving me money. My first donor gave me $1000. He said he had three daughters and he cared about the cause. It hit him that this could happen to his daughters. I bought a thousand dollars worth of purses."

"I didn't really expect it to be as amazingly great as it is today. We are like the little engine that could because we're still relatively small. It was amazing to me that so many people understood the need."

Each Love Purse contains a personal note of inspiration for each woman. Castro says the notes are very important.

"We want them to know that they are beautiful, they are loved, they matter and this too shall pass."

Castro says women don't just carry their purses for fashion, they contain their most private and personal belongings. It's an essential part of their lives. If you would like to donate to Love Purse, you may purchase a $50 dollar gift card that includes a new purse with toiletries.

"We will purchase a purse for you, fill it with all the essentials & this card with the name and message of your choice. and these are created by our Angel Ambassaders.

In May 2025, the Illinois House of Representatives passed House Resolution 0339, officially commending the organization and its founder for outstanding philanthropic service to women in need.

Love Purse is holding it's 5th annual "88 Miles to Impact: Back to the Future" Gala on Thursday, October 8, at Wilder Mansion in Elmhurst.

The gala supports Love Purse's mission of restoring dignity and hope for women in crisis and will feature a "Back to the Future"-inspired evening of entertainment, food and drinks, a raffle and silent auction. Tickets are available here.

In the end, Castro says their mission is simple.

"We put love on the shoulders of women in need, one Love Purse at a time," she smiled.