Proceeds from the Mrs. Ballington Booth purse will support Volunteers of America Upstate New York's efforts to empower people in our community to rise out of poverty and reach their full potential.

About the purse:

The Mrs. Ballington Booth purse is made of a patent leather with tan punch hole leather accents. It features exterior side pockets large enough to hold a water bottle and interior sewn pockets for accessories. The purse itself measures 18”x12”x6” which is large enough to accommodate a laptop computer.

There is a water-lily medallion on the front purse magnetic closure, which is in reference to Maud Ballington Booth’s memorable nature analogies. A water-lily, while beautiful on the surface, had an arduous path to reach the top. What began as a bud, down in the depths of murky water, had a ray of sunshine penetrate the filth and bring that bud to the surface. All it needed was a powerful light to guide it. Maud dedicated her life to be that light for the most vulnerable and those in need.

The back of the Mrs. Ballington Booth purse features a golden plate, engraved with an inspirational quote from Maud herself. “Look Up & Hope” Maud Ballington Booth Leader and co-founder of Volunteers of America (1865 - 1948). Accompanying each purse is an insert card with the life story of Maud Ballington Booth which shows her commitment to provide care for the whole person—mind, body and spirit.