Pelham group's used handbag auction helps raise money to help children with vision problems

A Pelham-based organization is hoping to bag lots of bucks Saturday to help children who are visually impaired. An auxiliary group for Sight Savers America is holding a "purse party" to sell more than 3,000 new and gently used donated handbags at The Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover. The fundraiser will include a sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a silent auction from 1 to 2 p.m., said Linda Long, communications director for the nonprofit group. Money raised from the purse party will go to purchase equipment for visually impaired children whose conditions range from low vision to legal blindness, Long said. The children must qualify to receive the equipment, none of which is covered by insurance. Sight Savers provides a variety of items, including hand-held telescopes and magnifiers and Braille equipment, Long said. Purses to be sold include designer originals, knockoffs, vintage purses and some owned and signed by celebrities such as actress Eva Longoria and singer Sara Evans, Long said. "We've got Coach and Prada bags, current fashion bags, evening purses and an eel-skin briefcase," Long said. "There's something for all ages and everyone's taste." Prices will begin at $2 or under for bargain-bin bags and go up to about $30 for higher-end purses, Long said. Overall pricing is about 50 percent of retail, she said. When organizers settled on the Saturday after Thanksgiving for the sale, they decided to take advantage of its falling the day after the Iron Bowl. Both Terry Saban and Jonna Chizik, wives of the Alabama and Auburn head football coaches, donated purses for the event. Barbara Dooley, wife of former Georgia football coach Vince Dooley and mother of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley, donated two purses. The designer and celebrity bags will be sold through the 1 p.m. silent auction. Bidders must be present to claim their items, Long said. Trudy Phillips, co-chairwoman of the event, said the group has received purse donations from around the state. "When people realize children age 3 to 12 can't see the world like we can and receiving a piece of equipment that costs up to $2,500 not only can allow them to read a book but give the opportunity for an education, it touches their heart," Phillips said. Long said organizers of the purse party are excited about all the good that can come from the event. "Providing this equipment for children and their families who can't afford the expense can make such a difference," she said. "It changes their lives for the better, making the kids more self-confident and allowing them to do things they've never done before."