Werribee Rotary Club has repurposed unwanted materials into 300 unique waterproof blankets to support homeless individuals through the winter months.
The project emerged from an innovative idea by one of the volunteers, Micki Hovey, who noticed many rolls of unwanted waterproof fabric sitting in a warehouse and destined for waste disposal.
“I thought we could do something useful with it otherwise it would have gone to the waste disposal. Recycling fabric is important, especially if it is to help others,” she said.
“It can provide warmth and hopefully keep them dry. If it has helped even just one person, I would be happy. Hopefully they will see that people do care about them.”
Ms Hovey was able to obtain the rolls and send them to a clothing maker who was willing to support the project by cutting and sewing the material into the final product.
On September 16, Rotary partnered with Wyndham City Salvation Army to further support the local humanitarian project.
Salvation Army corps major Katherine Abram said the blankets are distributed at Werribee train station on a Friday night.
While 300 blankets are now in the hands of the Salvation Army, another 200 are planned to be delivered to one of their other community-minded partners, RecLink.
Afraa Kori
