Fashion with a Purpose: How Your Handbag Can Feed a Child

“That handbag sitting in your closet could be the reason a child doesn’t go to bed hungry tonight.”

Join Us on November 8th

Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 8th. Come shop, laugh, and connect with others who believe in fashion with a purpose. Bags & Baubles is more than an event — it’s a movement. A reminder that when we give from the heart, we create beauty that lasts far longer than a season’s trend.

That handbag in your closet? It’s not just leather or fabric. It’s not just straps and zippers. It’s a meal, a smile, and a weekend without hunger. It’s a chance to turn fashion into a future filled with hope.

When we think of handbags, jewelry, or accessories, the first things that come to mind are often style, sparkle, and self-expression. They complete an outfit. They carry our essentials. They reflect our personalities. But at The Kind Mouse, these items represent something far more powerful: hope, nourishment, and the chance for a child to fall asleep with a full tummy instead of an empty one.

This fall, we are inviting our community to see fashion through a new lens — not just as something you wear, but as something you can share. Through our upcoming Bags & Baubles fundraiser on Saturday, November 8th, your gently used or new handbags, jewelry, and accessories can take on a second life. And that life begins not in someone’s closet, but in the lives of local children who need us most.

From Closet to Cause

Take a moment and think about your own closet. Chances are, tucked away on a shelf, there’s a handbag you haven’t used in years. Maybe it was a gift. Maybe you bought it for a special occasion. Maybe your style has simply shifted over time.

What if that handbag could do more than gather dust?

At The Kind Mouse, each donated handbag or accessory becomes part of something bigger. These items are gathered, beautifully displayed, and sold at our Bags & Baubles event — a fun and fabulous day where fashion meets philanthropy. Every dollar raised from the sale of these items goes directly into programs that fight childhood hunger here in our community.

That forgotten handbag in your closet could be transformed into cartons of milk, boxes of granola bars, or packs of crackers — the very items that fill our Mouse Nibbles weekend bags. Those bags are placed in the backpacks of children who might otherwise go two long days without a meal.

In other words, a handbag becomes so much more than an accessory. It becomes a lifeline.

Fashion Meets Philanthropy

Bags & Baubles is more than just a fundraiser. It’s a celebration of what happens when style and generosity come together. Guests browse through tables of donated handbags, sparkling jewelry, and chic accessories, all while knowing that each purchase carries a greater purpose.

There’s a certain joy in finding the perfect handbag or necklace — but there’s an even deeper joy in knowing that your purchase is feeding tummies. It’s not just a fashion statement; it’s a statement of compassion.

The event is fun, yes — filled with laughter, shopping, and community spirit — but it’s also a powerful reminder of why we gather: because there are children in Pinellas County who go to bed hungry far too often. Because food insecurity is real, and together, we have the power to change that story.

The Ripple Effect of a Single Bag

It’s easy to think that one handbag or one necklace won’t make much of a difference. But at The Kind Mouse, we see the ripple effect every single day.

• One handbag donated becomes funds raised.

• Those funds become boxes of nutritious snacks.

• Those snacks become Mouse Nibbles bags.

• And those bags become full tummies and brighter weekends for children in need.

It’s a beautiful chain reaction — one that starts with something as simple as opening your closet and choosing to give.

The Faces Behind the Cause

Behind every Mouse Nibbles bag is a real child. A little girl who now has the energy to play on Saturday morning. A young boy who doesn’t have to worry about his next meal. A teenager who can focus on homework instead of hunger pangs.

Food insecurity can feel invisible. You can’t always see it walking down the street. But it exists in our neighborhoods, our schools, and our communities. The child sitting next to your own child in class may be quietly carrying that burden.

Through Bags & Baubles, we have the chance to make the invisible visible — to shine a light on the reality of hunger and invite everyone to be part of the solution.

The success of Bags & Baubles depends on the generosity of people like you. Here’s how you can get involved:

• Donate handbags, jewelry, or accessories — gently used or new — by October 15, 2025.

• Drop-off Location: The Kind Mouse Pantry, 1801 16th St. N., Suite B, St. Petersburg, FL 33704.

• Phone: (727) 575-7834 if you have questions or need more information.

• Spread the word — tell friends, family, and coworkers about the event and encourage them to donate or attend.

Every single item matters. Every single donation helps. Together, they create an event that not only brings joy to shoppers but fills the tummies of local children who need us most.

Final Thought

At The Kind Mouse, we believe no child should go to bed with an empty tummy. With your help, we can turn everyday items into extraordinary impact.

Donate your handbags, jewelry, and accessories by October 15th. Join us on November 8th for Bags & Baubles. Let’s make fashion more than beautiful — let’s make it meaningful.

Car Credit and Nuevo en US Partner with The Kind Mouse to Fight Hunger

At Car Credit and Nuevo en US, we believe in giving back to the community and making a meaningful impact. That’s why we are proud to partner with The Kind Mouse, an incredible organization dedicated to providing hunger relief to children and families in need.

Hunger is a challenge no child should face, and The Kind Mouse is working tirelessly to ensure that children in our community have access to the meals they need to grow, learn, and thrive.

Through this partnership, we are committed to supporting their mission of feeding little tummies and bringing hope to families struggling with food insecurity.

Together, we can make a difference. Join us in supporting The Kind Mouse and creating a brighter future for those in need. Because when we come together, we can ensure that no child goes hungry.