Old uniforms making a material difference

A dedicated group of volunteers who make unique clothing for children from old emergency services uniforms is looking for more people to join them.

Senior-Constable Jo Arthur from the Moreton Police Prevention Unit and Moreton Support Services Inspector Julia Cook paid the Burpengary Uniforms 4 Kids Sewing Centre a visit recently to meet the team behind the project.

Uniforms 4 Kids is a not-for-profit organisation that recycles emergency services uniforms into clothes.

Inspector Cook, who has returned to Moreton Bay after four years at Longreach, wanted to thank volunteers for their work.

“Not only is this recycling old uniforms, it is an opportunity for our emergency services organisations to connect and build trust with our community and for people to get involved in a charity and create social networks,” Inspector Cook says.

Successful group

Sen-Constable Arthur regularly attends the get together to let the group know where their clothing, bags and toys are being distributed.

“It is important that the ladies know where their creations are going, that they are making a difference,” Sen-Constable Arthur says.

“The community are very appreciative and they need to know that.”

“Meeting with the ladies and sharing stories of the smiles the items bring to the kids’ faces, especially once they realise that their one-of-a-kind is made from a police uniform, is a very big part of why our Moreton group is so successful.”

The clothing is distributed to many different areas, including schools, Neighbourhood Centres, Chaplains and The Centre Against Domestic Abuse.

How to get involved

Opal Grace and the team meet every second Wednesday at the Burpengary Men’s Shed, where they drop off their creations, pick up new supplies and swap patterns and ideas.

Opal, who is the co-ordinator for Burpengary Uniforms 4 Kids, also spends many hours removing badges from old jumpers, which then go to those in need including homeless people during colder months.

Sen-Constable Arthur says residents from Narangba Community Aged Care joined the group earlier this year and now have a designated area at the centre where they meet and sew clothes and toys.

They also visited the Mens’ Shed to meet the rest of the group and share stories.

Since it began, Uniform 4 Kids has distributed more than 63,000 items.

“That is a lot of uniforms and a lot of smiling faces,” Sen-Constable Arthur says.

Gatherings are held at the Burpengary Men’s Shed, Maitland Rd, Burpengary East every second Wednesday from noon to 3pm.

All supplies are provided, and no sewing experience is necessary.

Meetings will be held on July 17 and 31, September 11 and 25, October 9 and 23, November 6 and 20 and December 4 and 18.

For more information email DCPC.Moreton@police.qld.gov.au.