Mission

Raise HOPE, help and support to those getting back on their feet from domestic abuse.
Spread awareness and work to prevent domestic abuse locally and around the world.
Open the conversation so that those still in abusive situations feel safe and confident to reach out for help.
Serve as a “BRIDGE” organization for survivors as they restructure their lives in a safe, productive, and positive direction.
 

“Hopefull Handbags genuinely cares and supports women’s success,
whatever their unique success means to them.”

Greta, Survivor

Delivering Hope

Hopefull Handbags delivers gently used handbags filled with necessities to domestic violence survivors in shelters and social service programs. Handbags also have inspirational notes and a journal with instructions on how to journal to improve self-perception. Community members donate handbags and other items at designated donation drop off locations. We purchase any shortfalls and deliver the Hopefull Handbags to survivors on at least a monthly basis.

Donate handbags, journals or essentials! See our list of essentials and visit your Hopefull Handbag Affiliate for donation locations and additional information.

group of women various ages

Impact of Our Work

Our handbags can be the first step in overcoming your fear about change.

Hopefull Handbags focuses on providing the knowledge, information, and tools to help you to feel inspired, motivated and empowered to create positive change in your life which affects everything and everyone around you. Learn More about our Survivor Services.

global map

Global Reach

The need to spread hope to and grow confidence in those enduring domestic violence goes beyond a single locale or national border.

There are seven Hopefull Handbags Affiliates spanning five continents, including Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, England and Wales, Scotland, South Africa, and the USA. Learn more about our Global Affiliate Program here!

Cathlene Miner

Cathlene’s Story 

Cathlene’s Why Behind Hopefull Handgbags

Cathlene Miner is the founder and president of Hopefull Handbags, Inc. an author, international speaker, and on-air personality. After seeing her grandmother live in and deal with domestic violence daily she knew at a young age that something had to change. Cathlene’s parents broke the cycle and she feels blessed to have seen first hand what healthy relationships look like.

Cathlene is dedicated to spreading the message of hope and raising awareness that Domestic Violence is NOT OK and that there is help and support globally.

It is time to change the patterns so that Domestic Violence is stopped. Hopefull Handbags, Inc. assists communities globally in this vision through partnerships, sponsors, local advocates, and support from businesses worldwide.

It’s Happening Everywhere

  • On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.
  • 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking with impacts such as injury, fearfulness, post-traumatic stress disorder, use of victim services, contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, etc.
    • 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. This includes a range of behaviors (e.g. slapping, shoving, pushing) and in some cases might not be considered “domestic violence.”
    • 1 in 7 women and 1 in 25 men have been injured by an intimate partner.
    • 1 in 10 women have been raped by an intimate partner. Data is unavailable on male victims.
  • 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been victims of severe physical violence (e.g. beating, burning, strangling) by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
  • 1 in 7 women and 1 in 18 men have been stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime to the point in which they felt very fearful or believed that they or someone close to them would be harmed or killed.
  • On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide.

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Source: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence NCADV