Sewing a new shared story

A MUCH-LOVED Anglesea sewing group has donated more than 40 book bags to the Geelong arm of charitable organisation Story Dogs.

The book bags will be used by Story Dogs volunteers to carry books when they visit local schools to help deliver reading programs.

The Sewing for a Purpose team has hand-made the bags using repurposed and donated materials, including worn dog jackets.

Story Dogs sponsor manager Karen Knuckey expressed her gratitude to the sewing group.

“It’s great; it’s community helping community,” she said.

“Every one of our volunteers needs a book bag to carry the reading books. Gladly, all our new ones from now on will get one.

“It’s a really nice concept from an environmental point of view as well. Rather than throw items out that we can’t use anymore, we are using them for something else.”

Sewing for a Purpose convenor Deb Elliot said the group was thrilled to provide a helping hand to a great cause.

“We are exactly sewing for a purpose here. It’s lovely.

“For a group like ours, it makes all the difference if you know the people you’re giving too. I’ve got a really good relationship with Karen now.

“We all just love working together. It’s a real sense of purpose and you’re achieving something.”

Both parties are hopeful the partnership will continue long into the future.

“If you want 600 bags, we’ll probably end up doing 600,” Ms Elliot said.

“As long as Karen gives us the middles and we can source black material, then it makes it worth it.”

For more information on Story Dogs, head to storydogs.org.au

For more information on Sewing with a Purpose, phone Anglesea Community House on 5263 2116.