Homeless teenagers in Madison and Huntsville may see a ray of hope with the Purses for Change project by Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) at Bob Jones High School.

FCCLA’s primary goal is to fill at least 40 bags full of necessities for Purses for Change, sponsor Kristy Wheeler said. Purses for Change representative Jamie Newell visited Bob Jones to explain the organization’s goals to FCCLA members and Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) classes.

Wheeler, Julie Bone and Germaine McNeil are FACS teachers.

Purses for Changes distributes purses or totes to homeless individuals to show someone cares, Wheeler said. In the month-long project, students decorated the sturdy canvas bags and donated non-perishable food and toiletries, including shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant and body wash.

Scott H. Peterson with Tennessee Family Services Inc. collected the totes, saying “My heart was filled with pride at seeing civic-minded youth that care so much to make such to create such a wonderful gift to their community.”

Bob Jones senior Tyler Nesselrotte, FCCLA president, believes Purses for Change was his group’s best project.

“Purses for Change brought all of our members together and our FACS classes were also involved in the process,” Nesselrotte said. “We picked this project because it was not only beneficial to our community, but also because it is providing for underprivileged people who are in need of things that we can provide for them.”

FCCLA is a nonprofit, national organization for youth in FACS education in public and private secondary schools. FCCLA has more than 200,000 members. The organization keeps its central focus on the family. Since 1945, FCCLA members have addressed important personal, work and societal issues through FACS education.

The Bob Jones FCCLA chapter is active at the local, state and national level. Many Bob Jones students participate in community service projects and competitions that have taken club members to many destinations outside the Madison area. Students have competed in Florida, Tennessee, California, Illinois and numerous other locations, Wheeler said.