Photo: Contributed

There is not only Power in the Purse, there is a lot of money.

The annual Power in the Purse fundraising event collected $55,500 to give families in the area a hand up.

The fundraiser was held recently at the Vernon Lodge and raised money for the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Vernon Women's Transition House and the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation.

Marlene Stark, with the Miracle Bucket Society, said referrals are made monthly to the society by those organizations.
“These purses go up for auction and it is just a lot of fun. People get into a bidding war and these purses go for hundreds of dollars, some in the thousands,” said Stark. “Last year, we raised $61,000.”

The live auction featured purses and getaways as well as a silent auction and raffle draw.

“All of the money goes to families in our community,” she said. “We have such a need in the North Okanagan.”