Soroptimist Brings Hope to Women

For someone fleeing abuse or exploitation, safety often begins with a single act of kindness. A warm pair of pajamas, a toothbrush, a notebook, or a knitted scarf may seem simple—but for a woman or girl arriving at a shelter with little more than the clothes she is wearing, those items can offer comfort, dignity, and the first reminder that she is not alone.

Soroptimist International of Rio Vista Women’s Rights committee members recently assembled Bags of Hope for local women in need. Not all bags have the exact same items but may include shawls, leggings, crocheted scarves, hats and lap blankets, bras, t-shirts, socks, and sunglasses. Toiletries include toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouth wash, dental floss, deodorant, sanitary napkins, lotion, hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo, conditioner, combs, brushes, razors, pens and journals.

Most items are donated by Soroptimist club members. The Women’s Rights committee also extends a special thanks to Nancy Lillegard, who contributed the knitted items.

Bags were distributed to St. Vincent de Paul’s Society Rio Vista, Rio Vista C.A.R.E. and Solano County Family Resource Center.

The bags include new pajamas, under clothing, tooth brushes, shampoos, soaps and feminine hygiene products for women and girls who arrive at the center with only the clothes on their backs. The club hopes that the survival bags give these women and girls, if only for a few days or weeks, some dignity by providing the basic necessities for daily living.