The Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting donations for their upcoming “What Women Want” event.

Cindy White, the executive director of the Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce, said the event will feature a “boutique” of donated women’s accessories that will be sold with a portion of the proceeds going to the United Way of Coles County.

Carolyn Cloyd, the executive director of the United Way of Coles County, said the United Way of Coles County provides funding for various service organizations and program within the county.

“What we do is we provide funding for programs through other non profits to help out around the community,” Cloyd said.

Cloyd said the organization helps around 36 agencies within Coles County. Cloyd said many who donate also ask for their money to stay within the county.

“People who want their money to stay here, (their money) will stay here,” Cloyd said.

Cloyd said some of the agencies the organization helps include local food banks, a homeless shelter, an equestrian therapy program, Habitat for Humanity, Sexual Assault Counseling and Information Services, HOPE of East Central Illinois, Coles County Council on Aging and the Charleston Transitional Facility.

“Everybody has something that tugs at their heart strings,” Cloyd said. “There are also a lot of people who really, specifically want to give to their community. United Way is the perfect way of doing that.”

White said the donations will include gently-used women’s accessories from purses to scarves, but will not include clothing.

White said this is the first year for the “What Women Want” event, but she hopes to make it an annual event.

The event blossomed from an annual spring wine tasting into the upcoming women-centered event, White said.

The Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce has been planning the event since late last fall and will include wine from County Market, chocolate from Flesor’s Candy Kitchen, as well as food, prizes, live music and a miniature expo of local businesses, White said.

White said each business that is participating in the expo is also donating a prize that will be given away.

“We hope it to be a unique and special event that women will enjoy,” White said.

“There aren’t a lot of events that are usually women focused.”

Kathryn Richter can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].