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UID:613@kicmke.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260128T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260128T173000
DTSTAMP:20251229T025454Z
URL:https://kicmke.org/events/sleeping-mats-for-the-homeless-01-25/
SUMMARY:[MLK] Crafting Sleeping Mats with Mercy Mats
DESCRIPTION:REGISTER NOW\nHelp our neighbors struggling with housing insecu
 rity and help the environment at the same time! Keep plastic grocery bags 
 out of the landfill by converting them into a plastic yarn called “plarn
 ” used by Mercy Mats of West Allis to crochet cushy sleeping mats\, whic
 h will be distributed by Repairers of the Breach - Milwaukee’s only dayt
 ime homeless resource center.\n\nThe mats are lightweight\, portable\, eas
 y to clean and offer a great barrier between the ground and the body to he
 lp retain body heat while sleeping outdoors. Staying warm can be the diffe
 rence between life and death in Wisconsin’s climate. They are also frequ
 ently used at warming shelters.\n\nIt 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 only a
 sking you to spend a couple hours converting the bags into “plarn.” Th
 is is a great project for the whole family! \nActivities\nIt is a simple 
 process in which you fold\, cut\, and knot plastic bags together. We’ll 
 teach you everything you need to know. There is a job for everyone! The yo
 ungest kids can flatten the bags out\, fold them\, and roll the plarn into
  balls. Slightly older kids can connect the loops. The older kids can do t
 he cutting!\nImpact\nChildren will see first hand how to reuse trash and t
 urn it into something useful! They will also learn teamwork skills as you 
 work together as a family towards a common goal. The finished mats are a h
 uge support to individuals struggling with housing insecurity and the prog
 rams that are working to help them secure stable housing.\nWhen &amp\; Whe
 re\nWednesday\, March 26 from 4-5:30 p.m.*\nWest Allis Library - Constitut
 ion Room\n7421 W. National Ave\, West Allis 53214\n\n*It's completely fine
  if you cannot arrive right at 4 p.m. Please send us an email and let us k
 now when you will be able to arrive.\nRegistration Information\nParticipat
 ion Cap: 12 volunteers\nAges: All ages\nCost: Free\nMaterials: Bring some 
 plastic grocery bags with you! Collect and bring plastic bags from your ow
 n grocery runs and from friends and neighbors (must be clean and smoke fre
 e) and/or pick up additional plastic bags from one of the bins at your nea
 rest grocery store. Just note that thicker Sendiks style bags cannot be us
 ed.\nQuestions: Email erin@kicmke.org with any specific questions.  \nCan
 cellations: We count on our registered volunteers to make these projects c
 ome to life. However\, we understand illness and emergencies do come up so
  if you can no longer participate\, please email erin@kicmke.org  ASAP so
  we can fill your spot.\n\nOur Partner\nSince 2016 Mercy Mats West Allis h
 as made 800+ mats keeping 560\,000 plastic bags out of landfills! Learn mo
 re about Mercy Mats from this Fox6 segment and on their Facebook page.
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CATEGORIES:On Your Own
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