BRATTLEBORO — The United Way of Windham County invites the public to an innovative event, Handbags for HOPE, to be held on Thursday, May 7, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the VFW Hall on Black Mountain Road.
This fun, ladies' event will feature a silent and live auction featuring Jean Gilbert as auctioneer. Handbags for HOPE will benefit the United Way's Fund for Quality Early Education.
More than 60 bags will be up for auction, including designer bags by Kate Spade, Coach, and Michael Kors, artisan-made bags, totes, purses, evening bags, backpacks, briefcases, and more.
Bags have been donated by local stores, designers, artists, and others and can be previewed at www.facebook.com/UWWindham.
Hors d'oeuvres and other tasteful treats will be provided by Hardy Foard Catering, Top Tier Baking Co., and Vermont Country Deli, with a cash bar available.
All proceeds of the Handbags for HOPE event benefit the United Way's Fund for Quality Early Education, which provides grants to early childhood educators and caregivers for professional development, program improvement, and program enrichment.
This fund was established to address the need for quality early education and to provide opportunities for Windham County providers to access continued education, collaborate with other providers, and to engage in the STep Ahead Recognition System (STARS), a Vermont quality rating on a variety of measures. To date, the Fund has made 105 grants totaling $68,000 to providers in Windham County.