How Carol answered call with bags

Two years ago, Carol Williams started making bags for local charities – and has not stopped.

Her tally is now more than 2000 with each piece of each bag (similar to a supermarket bag) individually cut from recycled Manchester and fabrics, and sewn together.

All go to the Mango Hill Op Shop, which sells them for $5 and The Breakfast Club Redcliffe, to be packed with goods and donated to the homeless.

“I’m happy to keep helping to fill the need,” said Carol, pictured above in the op shop, “I can almost do it with my eyes shut!”

Answering call

It started when COVID first arrived. Carol was working in a pharmacy but stopped and returned to her skills as a dressmaker.

“I saw that Redcliffe Breakfast Club wanted other than plastic bags, so I started making them, getting my own materials,” she said.

“Then I started at the op shop which now gives me items it cannot use. I give the bags back, the shop then sells them and doesn’t lose out.”

Around 50-60 bags are donated each month to the breakfast club on Oxley Ave - which provides free meals and help for those in need.

The club’s only request is for half-sized bags at Christmas.

'Marvellous job'

Carol currently works two days a week at the op shop, in the YMCA building in Halpine Dr, and “at least three days at home”.

“I’ve worked all my life and when I retired had a lot of time on my hands,” she said, “I don’t play golf or tennis.

“I watched them building the YMCA and when the op shop opened, I went in and asked if they wanted volunteers.

“Most of the people I know give up so much time there and the breakfast club does a marvellous job helping the homeless.”

Sharon Hazel, Mango Hill Op Shop Supervisor, said: “Carol has the biggest heart and is so creative and generous. She’s an amazing woman.”