Woman Empowering Women

When despair reigns and hope is lost, even the smallest token can brighten a day and replace a tear with a smile. Rachel Warning is doing this one bag at a time through Women Empowering Women, an all-volunteer project that supplies care packages to domestic abuse victims.

Warning's desire to lend a helping hand began last year when she saw how desperate victims of domestic abuse can be. "I can't help every one," Warning said. "But I definitely can help some one." As a working mother with a 15-year old son, Warning, a US Air Force veteran and government employee, wanted to do something...anything... that would make a difference.. Her personal finances are limited, but she could collect mini-bottles of shampoo and other essentials. She then bought some Ipsy bags and began organizing care packages. She quickly put together 13 bags and took them to a local women's shelter.

"I'm not doing this for any recognition," Warning said. "I'm just one person; a working mom. I just want to anonymously give these to people who need them." She dropped off the care packages and asked that they be distributed to anyone with a need. "I just wanted to help."

The bags were in high-demand, so Warning decided to make more. "It was just something I felt I could do. It was just a woman empowering other women." If she had more items, she could help more women in need.

With that in mind, Warning reached out to the general public with a simple post on Facebook Marketplace. "I wanted to include more people and see if others had items they may want to donate." The response was impressive. "So many people have boxes of those little shampoos, soaps, conditioners from when they stay in hotels." Warning said her friends and neighbors collected dozens of unopened samples from their travels. "It was a great start."

Those items, along with donations from hotel and motel owners, as well as cash donations, helped Warning purchase all the basics. She sat in her basement floor sorting items and filling bags. Eventually, her son and her best friend lent a hand. In total, over 400 bags have been produced and distributed to area shelters in the Southern Illinois and St. Louis metropolitan areas.

"So often women leave their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs," Warning said. While shelters often provide clothing and physical shelter, toiletries and personal care items always are in need. "There's something really special about having your own personal items," Warning said. "It allows the woman to feel loved again."

Even in the worst and most difficult times, Warning said it is important to be able to brush your teeth, fix your hair, and feel good about yourself. "We put those essentials in each bag."

This project began as something Warning simply wanted to do to help in her own small way. "Once the donations started coming in, I needed a little help." Her best friend, Brooke Bennett, and teenage son have been the biggest helpers. "They do so much to help me."

Warning uses Ipsy cosmetic pouches or paper gift bags, whichever she has in stock. Each filled bag is then boxed into groups and delivered to local women's shelters or shipped to a location in need. "I try to combine a variety of items in each bag, because we never know the exact circumstances the (recipient) may have," Warning said.

She recently received a donation of women's jewelry. "I carefully cleaned each item--we're in a pandemic after all--and then added it to the bags." Helping women heading back into the workforce is also one of Warning's goals. "Sometimes when these ladies get a job the need some special things to help them. Maybe a pair of earrings will brighten their day a little bit."

Personal care items include toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body lotions, feminine hygiene products, cosmetics, and deodorants. Hand sanitizer, jewelry, and any other small item is welcomed as well. She has received cash donations and carefully tracks every item purchased with the money. Since Warning is not a non-profit organization, she said it is better to just receive the items instead of cash.

Warning said that women who experience domestic abuse are often left homeless and without any personal belongings. "Many times (these women) are forced to leave home with just the clothes on their backs. They depend of family and friends who may not be able to help or even know that there is a problem," Warning said.

Nor is it limited to other people. Warning's sister was a victim of domestic abuse. "She was living in another state," Warning said. "It made helping much more difficult, especially at a time when they had just lost the father." Waring said that being watchful for warning signs of domestic abuse is critically important.

She warns that it can affect anyone. "...domestic violence is not limited to just women. Men are victims as well."

The National Center of Biotechnology Information at the National Institutes of Health tracks instances of domestic abuse across the US. According to NCBI statistics, over 10 million people every year are affected by domestic violence. One-of-four women (and one-of-nine men) will experience physical violence by an intimate partner during their lifetime. Of those affected, one-of-three women will experience some form of sexual violence.

Warning said receiving the items is more important that receiving cash. Collecting donations is a logically problem, so friends suggested that she create an Amazon Wish List of the most needed items. This allows people to purchased items and have them automatically shipped without worry.

"I've come home from work many times to Amazon boxes stacked outside my door," she said. These random acts of kindness go a long way. Whatever the donation, Warning sorts and stores it until they are ready to fill more bags. "I have a large area in my basement that we use to store the items until they get packed into bags."

"We may not be able to help everyone, but we can help some one," Warning said. "It's about women empowering women."

Emergency assistance is available 24/7/365 from The Hotline at the National Domestic Abuse Hotline (24/7/365) at 800-799-7233 or by calling 9-1-1.

To assist Women Empowering Women project, visit an updated Amazon Wish List here.