Woodend Community Bags group to donate $500

BRIAN THOMAS AND SALLY SCANLAN (Joe Mastroianni).

The Woodend Community Bags group is donating $500 to a community project.

The group has launched Bags of Ideas, an initiative under which community groups  can apply for funding to help finance their projects.

The $500 is surplus funds that have been raised by Woodend Community Bags since the group began selling its reusable fabric bags last year.

Woodend Community Bags convener Sally Scanlan said the group started selling a few bags at the monthly Woodend Farmer’s Market to raise money to buy two new sewing machines and pay for supplies.

“Sales have rocketed,” she said.

“People even buy the bags for gifts and visitors to Woodend take them home as souvenirs. We’ve found ourselves in the fortunate position of having more funds than we need.”

Anyone living in the 3442 postcode can apply for the funding by submitting 100 words about their project, or a 30-second video, to the community bags group.

The group will choose the top three entries, before asking the community to vote on who should get the $500.

Entries close on July 25 and the winner will be announced on August 17.

Details: woodendnh.org.au/bagsofideas