Stalls reach the tail end after raising thousands for GAWS

A GROUP of volunteer sewers say seeing dogs wearing the jackets they make and happily wagging their tails makes all their hard work worth it.

Helen Roberts, along with a small group of women, have made and sold about 1000 dog coats and hundreds of beds during the past few years, with all proceeds going to the Geelong Animal Welfare Society (GAWS).

The volunteers set up a stall every few weeks over winter in the carpark across from the shelter in Moolap to sell their creations, with just the right size and style to fit any pet.

But unfortunately, the group has decided it is time to finish up – and held their last stall on Sunday.

The sewing group formed about six years ago with Helen and one of the GAWS board members making coats for the shelter dogs.

“One year we made too many so started setting up a table inside the shelter gates to sell some and raise money for the shelter,” Helen said.

“Now our stalls have grown so much we moved into the car park and usually had hundreds of coats on hand.”

Helen said the group had held about 25 stalls during the past five years.

She said they raised a few hundred dollars during their first stall, with their biggest stall last June raising $6500.

“When it’s really busy we have the dogs all in here and they are wagging their tails, and you get good photos of the dogs in their coats and it makes it all worthwhile,” Helen said.

Helen said stock that didn’t sell at the stalls would be available at the GAWS Recycled Fashion and Homewares store in Pako Street in Geelong West.

“And we will still be sewing for the shelter – in particular supporting the very popular foster care program,” she said.