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UID:483@kicmke.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20250423T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20250423T180000
DTSTAMP:20250330T155852Z
URL:https://kicmke.org/events/creating-sleeping-mats-for-the-homeless-apri
 l-2025/
SUMMARY:Creating Sleeping Mats for the Homeless
DESCRIPTION:REGISTER HERE\nHelp our neighbors struggling with housing insec
 urity and help the environment at the same time! Keep plastic grocery bags
  out of the landfill by converting them into a plastic yarn called “plar
 n” used by Mercy Mats of West Allis to crochet cushy sleeping mats\, whi
 ch will be distributed by Repairers of the Breach - Milwaukee’s only day
 time homeless resource center.\nIt usually takes 500-700 plastic bags and 
 about 700 hours to make one 3x6 foot sleeping mat. Last year\, Mercy Mats 
 West Allis completed and delivered 170 mats. But\, don’t worry! We are o
 nly asking you to spend a couple of hours converting the bags into “plar
 n.” This is a great project for the whole family!\nThe mats are lightwei
 ght\, portable\, easy to clean\, and offer a great barrier between the gro
 und and the body to help retain body heat while sleeping outdoors. Staying
  warm can be the difference between life and death in Wisconsin’s climat
 e. They are also frequently used at warming shelters.\n\nActivities\nWe’
 ll teach you everything you need to know about folding\, cutting\, and kno
 tting plastic bags together. There is a job for everyone! The youngest kid
 s can flatten the bags out\, fold them\, and roll the plarn into balls. Sl
 ightly older kids can connect the loops and the older kids can do the cutt
 ing!\n\nImpact\nChildren will see firsthand how to reuse trash and turn it
  into something useful! They will also learn teamwork skills as they work 
 together as a family towards a common goal. The finished mats are a huge s
 upport to individuals struggling with housing insecurity and the programs 
 that are working to help them secure stable housing.\n\nWhen &amp\; Where\
 nWednesday\, April 23 from 4-6 p.m.\n**If you cannot stay the entire time\
 , no problem! Just send an email to katie@kicmke.org and let me know when 
 you will be able to arrive!\nWest Allis Library - Constitution Room\n7421 
 W National Ave\nWest Allis\, WI 53214\n\nRegistration Information\nPartici
 pant Cap: 12 volunteers\nAge: All ages welcome!\nCost: Free\nMaterials: Br
 ing some plastic grocery bags with you! Collect and bring plastic bags fro
 m your own grocery runs and from friends and neighbors (must be clean and 
 smoke-free) and/or pick up additional plastic bags from one of the bins at
  your nearest grocery store. Just note that thicker Sendiks-style bags can
 not be used.\nQuestions: Please contact katie@kicmke.org with any question
 s.\nCancellations: We count on our registered volunteers to make these pro
 jects come to life. However\, we understand illness and emergencies do com
 e up so if you can no longer participate\, please email katie@kicmke.org A
 SAP so we can fill your spot.\n\nOur Partner\nSince 2016 Mercy Mats West A
 llis has made 800+ mats keeping 560\,000 plastic bags out of landfills! Le
 arn more about Mercy Mats from this Fox6 segment and on their Facebook pag
 e.
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CATEGORIES:Children and Families
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