A new TikTok trend sees mothers across the country leaving gift cards or cash in baby products at supermarkets as part of an effort to help cash-strapped parents.
The trend, called on TikTok the #shedeservedthepurse challenge, took off last week after Denaesha Gonzales, a Nashville mom, posted a 17-second video. In that clip, Gonzales noticed a silver clutch handbag misplaced on the shelf of an aisle displaying children's body wash and medication.
Gonzales, 28, believed the purse was left there by a mother who sacrificed her desire to buy the item so she could afford essentials for her child. The video had a caption that read "She Deserved the Purse," later adapted to be the name of the challenge.
"I've found myself several times wishing I could get something but couldn't. I've gone through seasons of lack where we could only afford just the essential things," Gonzales told The Washington Post.
Going Viral
After posting, Gonzales' video has earned more than 20 million views, 4.4 million likes, and 150,000 shares. The video sparked the #shedeservedthepurse challenge. The trend sees participants---many of whom are mothers themselves---buy and place gift cards or money inside baby items at department stores and supermarkets to give back and possibly help other cash-strapped moms.
For instance, mother-of-four Cecily Bauchmann slipped a $100 Target gift card and a short note inside a pack of Huggies diapers. Videos of other moms also showed them sticking gift cards on different containers of baby formula.
In addition, comments under these videos came from other mothers who related to leaving behind a purse to afford items that are more essential.
The Downside of the #Shedeservedthepurse Challenge
Despite moms helping out other mothers, some TikTok videos have reported that they saw groups of teenagers searching the diaper boxes for hidden money or gift cards.
To prevent this and continue paying it forward, some mothers are now handing gift cards directly to other mothers they see in department stores and supermarkets. Some moms also handed gift cards to mothers who were putting items for themselves back on the baby aisle. Other moms also suggested donating money or baby supplies to local organizations and charities.
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