Seniors in Innisfail continue to use their creative crocheting skills to help Red Deer’s homeless.
This week, members of Innisfail Seniors Drop-In Society dropped by Turning Point’s office to donate 12 hand-crafted sleeping mats made from plastic bags. The group started making mats about a year ago, and have donated about 40 so far.
Mitchell Danser, Turning Point communications and community engagement co-ordinator, said to have people reach out, who have no direct connection to Turning Point clients, is heartwarming.
“For them to see the need, and respond to it, especially in a way that’s so meaningful, spending the time to make the mats, it’s so incredible,” Danser said.
Creating a single mat requires hundreds of plastic bags, and can take up to 30 hours to complete. Each mat has a strap so it can be rolled up and carried like a yoga mat.
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Danser knew of one client who received a mat last year and it still looks like new so they are quite durable.
The harm reduction agency says as warmer weather arrives, many of Red Deer’s homeless are beginning to spend more time outdoors. To increase the safety and comfort of these vulnerable individuals, Innisfail seniors took it upon themselves to construct the light-weight sleeping mats.
Seniors use the ‘plarning’ technique to crochet the mats.
Danser said there has been a lot of interest from the community from people who want to know how to make the mats, but so far Innisfail seniors have been the only ones to make and donate them to Turning Point.
“We have such a huge homeless community in Red Deer and central Alberta. They could definitely use more.”
A video explaining plarning can be found on YouTube.
Related:
Sleeping mats made from plastic bags donated to Red Deer agency
Seniors say while participation in their project has grown, their stock of plastic bags is running low and they are hoping that businesses and community members will donate as many plastic bags as they can.
Last year, Best Buy Canada Red Deer made a significant donation to the project by donating all their remaining bags as part of a company-wide initiative to move away from the use of plastic bags.
Anyone with bags to donate can contact Innisfail Seniors Drop-In Society or Turning Point.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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