EVEN with thousands of Boomerang Bags circulating on the Border, a volunteer group is still struggling to keep up with demand.
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More than 5200 bags have been handed out to retailers and for special events in little more than a year.
Boomerang Bags Albury Wodonga spokeswoman Andrea Palmer said they urgently needed more volunteers to meet the demand for the reusable shopping bags.
She said they now supplied Boomerang Bags to East Albury IGA, Almar Organics and Border Just Foods in South Albury.
“We are supplying three retailers now but there is big demand from others,” she said.
“We drop off 70 bags to IGA on Wednesdays and they’re all gone by Saturday.”
“Some people make the bags up at home,” Ms Palmer said.
“They can pick up kits from the centre or we can drop them to people.”
Long-term volunteer Shelley Robotham said people were looking for alternatives to using plastic bags.
She said Boomerang Bags – which could be borrowed and returned to shops – were a good solution and working bees were a chance for people to connect.
“Sewing is better than therapy,” she said.
“The sewing itself is very relaxing; it’s mindful and it takes you away from everyday things when you’re sitting in front of a machine.
“We’re happy to teach people to sew but there is also plenty of cutting out, ironing and pinning.”
Wodonga volunteer Sharan Moore said that despite her lack of sewing experience she had joined the Boomerang Bags working bees mid-last year.
Ms Moore said she never enjoyed her school textiles class growing up near Robinvale.
“I hated sewing at school!” she quipped.
“But I came along to the working bees last year because I wanted to get out of my unit to socialise.
“Now I do a bit of everything but I spend a lot of time on the overlocker.”
Albury volunteer Veronica Kohne said she had been sewing for charity groups during the past two years.
She joined the Boomerang Bags group for some variety.
“I wanted to do something different from knitting and crochet,” she said.
Boomerang Bags Albury Wodonga sewing bees are held at The SAC in Wodonga from 10am to 2pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.
With more volunteers, other days are possible.
For details phone Andrea on 0409 205 230 or visit the Facebook page Boomerang Bags -Albury Wodonga & Surrounds.
