Community Corner
VIDEO: Bags to Riches Event Sends a Couple to Vegas, Raises Money for a Good Cause
The annual event at Richfield's Arc's Value Village helped give people more incentive than usual to donate their used handbags, backpacks and pieces of luggage.
Mother Nature brought a steady downpour to Richfield on the morning of Saturday, May 21. But inside Richfield's , a constant stream of people who dropped off bag, after bag, after bag, proved that generosity can never be rained out.
"Purses get old, you get sick of them," said Terry Benson of Burnsville.
Benson is one of more than a hundred people who donated their old handbags and luggage for the annual event.
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She donated 60 bags.
"My husband said, get rid of these bags," Benson said with a laugh.
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Once they're all sorted, each bag will eventually make its way to the sales floor.
"Ladies love handbags," said Laurel Hansen, business director at Arc's Value Village.
All that purchasing power will help Arc's mission to ensure local families and people with disabilities lead successful lives.
"The merchandise is moving quick, the prices are great and you can feel good about not only helping out a great cause, but shopping to reuse," Hansen said.
One of the other factors that motivated people to donate was the chance to win a trip for two to Las Vegas, courtesy of myTalk107.1 and Sun Country Airlines.
With each donated bag, people received one entry form.
"I'm really hoping I get it," Benson said.
Once noon rolled around, myTalk107.1 personalities Lori and Julia announced the names of Karen and Bill Goldaris of Edina as the winners of the trip to Vegas.
"We're so excited," said Karen Goldaris, who donated 17 bags. "It happens to coincide with our 30th wedding anniversary."
In total, Arc's staff members say they collected more than 725 bags.
