Mats for the Homeless

Mats for the Homeless

This ministry provides a tangible means of comfort to the homeless with the mats they make from recycled shopping bags.


The Mats for the Homeless Ministry started as an offshoot of the Prayer Shawl Ministry. Using readily accessible plastic shopping bags, this ministry turns the bags, which would otherwise end up in landfills, into “plarn” (plastic yarn), which is then crocheted into functional mats for the homeless. The mats are distributed through homeless shelters.


While this group meets only once a month, many hands help throughout the process. Donations of clean, dry plastic bags are received in baskets at the church. Individuals and families then take the bags home where they fold, cut, and loop the strips together to form balls of plarn. Then those who crochet get to work creating the mats. It typically takes about 700 bags to make one mat which measures 3’ x 6’.


The product of this ministry is more than just mats for the homeless. Members connect while working towards a common cause, building relationships that spread back to our church community and beyond.


A typical meeting includes prayer, and the social aspect of teaching newcomers how to make a mat, and working while discussing the topics of the day. New members are always welcome. And don’t worry, if you don’t know how to crochet, they will teach you.

 

Meets monthly on the 4th Monday from 5:30-7 PM in the Pine Room


For more information, contact: MatsMinistry.sfa@gmail.com


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