Whittlesea Lions Club donated $4250 to Boomerang Bags Whittlesea group last month to purchase new accessible sewing machines.
The new machines do not require a foot pedal, which allows people with a disability or limited mobility the opportunity to sew with the group.
Boomerang Bags Whittlesea branch facilitator Ursula Jenkins said she was appreciative of the donation.
“They’re a little bit more expensive but because they’re special machines but it means we can utilise the volunteers who want to volunteer but may be unable. There’s lots of people of who want to sew and there’s not enough machines for them,” she said.
“The machines are going to get a lot of use. We’ve made 8000 bags so far over eight years and we’re making more and more.
“We’re rapidly growing hence the need for the request, and we really appreciate it.
“Boomerang Bags owns the machines but we feel they are a valuable resource and strongly believe should be used by other community members and groups in the future.
Ms Jenkins said the group appreciated the Lions Club helping a service within their own community.
“A lot of groups will send money overseas or to disaster areas, but we’re a group that needs help right in their own community,” she said.
“We’re really grateful that community are helping community.”
Whittlesea Lions Club members visited the Whittlesea Library – where the group sews – to hand over the donation.
Club president Eric Gordon said they were happy to donate the money to a community group.
“We had a bit of an excess of money, and we were looking for things to do,” he said.
“Ursula sent us a letter requesting the purchase of some new machines because they have more volunteers than machines. It is a good cause, so we thought ‘why not?’”
Throughout the year, Whittlesea Lions Club raises money through ventures including sausage sizzles, barbecues and a golf day.
It will also be selling Christmas cakes at Mill Park Bunnings this year.
Boomerang Bags make reusable items including bags given out for free at the supermarket to help shoppers avoid using plastic bags.
“They make great gifts, and they recycle waste fabric because Australia has a huge waste fabric textile problem,” Ms Jenkins said.
“We’re also collaborating with the Country Women’s Association in Kinglake. They’ve got an established network – the whole Diamond Valley CWA has a network of contacts with hospitals.
“When people have surgery they sometimes get a big drainage bag and lots of medical cables and things that and they like to hide them within a nice bag so they can get on with their life and not feel like such a patient. So we’ll work together to make those to give out.”
Both Whittlesea Lions Club and Boomerang Bags are on the hunt for more volunteers.
“We’re always looking for new members and with new members hopefully we get new ideas of ways that we can spend the money that we raise,” Mr Gordon said.
The Lions Club meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at Whittlesea Bowls Club from 7pm – people interested can contact the bowls club or email lionsclubofwhittlesea@hotmail.com.
Boomerang Bags currently has 33 volunteers and anyone interested can contact Ms Jenkins on 0431 312 647 or plasticfreewhittlesea@gmail.com.
Donations of fabric that an op shop cannot use – but are still clean – are also welcome at Whittlesea Library for the group to use for their projects.
