Plastic grocery bags from local retailers have a tendency to accumulate at home if not thrown away altogether. However, a local church is putting them to use for a greater good by producing mats for the benefit of area homeless. Since 2012, the ‘Mat Makers’ of the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Milton work diligently both together and on their own in order weave the bags into mats which are used to keep the homeless dry overnight.
“The purpose (of these mats) is to go under their sleeping bags and keep them dry,” said Marianne Richardson, who heads up the ‘makers’ ministry.
The group has collectively created more than 40 mats, which are donated to the EsaRosa Coalition on the Homeless and distributed to those in need.
Each mat, which are 36 inches wide and six feet in length, requires around 800 bags to produce and can be completed in various time frames, depending on the person crocheting. Creating each mat is a lengthy process according to Richardson, from processing the plastic bags into a plastic yarn, or plarn, to crocheting the mat itself.
Richardson said the church assists the group by collecting the bags when needed to support the cause.
“It takes as much time to make the yarn as it does to crochet,” she said. “It is a very collaborative effort.”
On the third Thursday of each month, the group will meet at the church for a couple of hours in the morning in order to work on their individual mats and provide assistance during the process. Some will contribute in processing the bags for the plarn while others will crochet.
In addition to supporting the area homeless population, being part of the ‘makers’ helps senior church members stay active. Many of the ‘makers’ will work on their mats at home in their spare time.
“I have been retired for about four years and I decided that I need to do something constructive,” Veronica McCrory said. “It is a nice opportunity to feel like you are being useful.”
At 91 years old, Yvonne Stephens is considered one of the most experienced ‘makers’ of the bunch having completed 19 mats. Stephens has plenty of experience when it comes to crocheting, by creating baby items which are donated to a local pregnancy center.
“I am crocheting all of the time on something. Scarves or baby afghans, I just do it and give it away,” Stephens said. “I enjoy doing it because it keeps my hands active which is good.”
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Church group turns plastic grocery bags into mats for area homeless