Purses for a purpose

COEUR d'ALENE - Debra Mote wants your used purse.

And a new one if you want to turn it over, as well.

The owner of Louie Permelia in the Plaza Shops is organizing "Open Your Purse for the Kids" from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Donated purses will be cleaned up and sold, with all proceeds going to Children's Village. There will be appetizers and wine.

Daisy J's, owned by Jennifer Rea and also in The Plaza Shops, is participating in the purse program.

"Who doesn't have an old purse in their closet they don't use?" Mote said.

Purse prices will start at $10 or so. Donated brands include Coach, Ellington and Prada. A new Linea Pelle purse valued at $275 will be auctioned off.

"I want to mark them to sell," she said.

Mote said she got the idea from her mother, Mary Jane Giralico, who lives in Rochester, Pa. She holds a similar sale to raise money for the library.

"I asked her if I could follow suit," Mote said.

Mom, of course, said yes.

"She loved it," Mote said. "I'm hoping to make mom proud."

Already, about 50 purses have been donated, including one from a Florida woman who heard about the event.

"She really liked the idea of what we were doing," Mote said.

New and used purses can be dropped off during regular hours this week at Louie Permelia or Daisy J's.