Proud to be from Pittsburgh: Plastic Bag Project

PITTSBURGH — Plastic bags that would otherwise end up in a landfill are being repurposed into something useful for the homeless.

The Plastic Bag Project collects plastic grocery bags and then makes them into sleeping mats for the homeless.

“It keeps them off the wet ground. They can either use it under their bedroll or as a bedroll,” said Marilyn Lynch, who started the Plastic Bag Project.

Volunteers meet every Thursday at St. Catherine of Sweden Church in Allison Park to work on the mats.

The plastic bags are cut into loops, then the loops are woven into a ball. Each mat is made up of approximately 700 bags and take about 60 hours to produce. The group has made about 37 mats so far.

“We do feel like we are doing something meaningful,” said Lynch. “I hope they know… That there are people who do care about them and they are not the rejects of society.”

Deacon Cliff Homer said the children of the parish have even become involved in the project.

“They decided to make nice little cards that we actually put in the blankets,” said Homer. “Just a little inspiration.”

Cox Media Group