SANDPOINT — The handbags Pat Stokesberry collected over the years were always lovingly cared for and top of the line.

So when she died last year, her husband, Cecil, held on to the purses because he wanted them to end up with someone who would treasure them as much as his wife did, said friend Barbie Buchanan.

"He wanted to donate them to a good cause so, of course, CASA's fantastic fundraiser is the place," Buchanan said. "Thank you, Cecil, it will be a fabulous sale!"

The annual Purse Party, a fundraiser for North Idaho CASA, is being held today from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Pend d'Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St. In addition to a large number of purses available for purchase, guests can enjoy appetizers and wine while they chat with neighbors and friends, mingle and shop.

The event collects gently used handbags donated at purse drops throughout the community and invites area women to shop the sale.

Proceeds benefit the North Idaho CASA program, which provides trained advocates for more than 240 child abuse and neglect victims in North Idaho. The court-appointed special advocates investigate child protection cases, represent each child’s best interests in court and assist with reunification or safe transitions into permanent homes.

"For many older children, CASA advocates may be the only stable adults in their lives," Kristin Ludwig, development director at North Idaho CASA, said.

CASA's signature fundraiser in Bonner and Boundary counties, the annual Purse Party dates back to the early 2000s, with some supporters having been a part of the event for decades.

It began as a way to get together with friends, maybe find a new handbag and simply have fun. That it allowed community members to help North Idaho CASA raise much-needed funds made it a must-attend event.

"The concept is brilliant: Collect handbags at purse drops throughout the community that are slightly loved and resell them for charity," Ludwig said in a previous interview.

Through donations and fundraisers such as the Purse Party, North Idaho CASA raises funds to recruit, train and support enough advocates to ensure that every child victim has a voice in court, Ludwig said. The organization also works to provide resources and a variety of outreach programs to foster youth.

Every dollar donated helps improve the life of a child suffering from trauma, helping them become a success, not a statistic, Ludwig said.

In Bonner and Boundary counties, CASA serves 43 children, 20 of whom are over the age of 14.

"Having just one stable adult in a child's life has been proven to enhance their success in school and provide hope for a brighter future," Ludwig said.