If you missed this year’s Power of the Purse, put it on your calendar for next year. I certainly will.

The annual fundraiser benefiting Mobile Meals brought a sellout crowd together Sept. 17 for an evening that combined shopping, food, entertainment and a cause that matters to thousands of Knox County seniors.

And there were bargains — lots of them.

Hundreds of donated purses filled the tables, many priced at less than one-third of their original value. Add a $1 jewelry area and a silent auction, and it was easy to understand why the room was packed almost from the moment the doors opened.

I may still be thinking about a few of those great deals I let someone else take home.

But Power of the Purse is about much more than finding a new handbag.

Mobile Meals delivers nutritious meals while also providing social connection and safety checks for older adults who want to remain independent in their homes. Information shared at the event reported that 97% of recipients say the program has improved their health, while 98% say they feel safer and more cared for. Last year, 1,700 client wellness alerts were reported and resolved.

The evening’s meal was fantastic, and the AKIMA Singers entertained the crowd before the program began. Lori Tucker served as emcee and was as warm, funny and engaging as always, keeping the evening moving while never losing sight of why everyone was there.

Akima Singers

One display put the impact of every purchase into perspective: A $20 purse can help feed a senior for a week, $40 for more than two weeks, $85 for a month and $170 for two months.

That makes finding a bargain feel even better.

The sellout crowd was there to shop and have fun, but every purse purchased, every piece of jewelry picked up and every silent-auction bid helped provide meals, connection and hope to homebound seniors.

Power of the Purse really does prove that every purse has a purpose.

If you missed the bargains this year, don’t make the same mistake next year. Come early — because I now know the best purses don’t stay on those tables very long.

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