CADILLAC — Oasis Family Resource Center is hosting a Stuff the Blue Goose event to fill their on-site pantry. On Thursday, April 21, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., a
9 & 10 News
May 11, 2021
It locally started in 2019 thanks to Cadillac Trooper Andrea Tillman and has just taken off since.
The program collects purses through the month of April, along with different personal items like shampoo or a hair brush. The donated items are then given to local organizations to be shared with survivors of sexual assault or domestic violence.
This year, more than 6,200 purses were collected.
State police say the program helps keep them connected with their community.
“We live in these communities as well and by doing these community outreach programs it brings us in touch with the citizens we serve and it helps us get some charity done to help victims of crime that we see,” said Michigan State Police Lt. Derrick Carroll. “So it’s a win-win, we’re helping victims of crime that we deal with every day and also helping out people in our community that need the help.”
9 & 10 News
April 30, 2021
Michigan State Police is announcing that Purses with a Purpose will be expanding statewide to benefit sexual abuse survivors.
Purses with a Purpose is lead by the Michigan State Police Women Leading Change employee resource group. The project was developed in 2019 by Trooper Andrea Tillman of the Cadillac post.
The purpose behind Purses with a Purpose is to gather purses and bags, and fill them with comforting items to donate to survivors of sexual abuse.
In 2019, Trooper Tillman received nearly 500 purse donations. But the project was paused in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We saw amazing support from our co-workers and community members in 2019,” says Tillman. “Bringing the initiative to our employee resource group in 2021, and getting that backing, we easily increased our reach.”