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Local volunteers turn plastic bags into sleeping mats for the homeless
Did you know that pile of plastic bags in your pantry could have new life?
CHICAGO - A stack of plastic bags in your pantry could find a meaningful new purpose.
Dawn Pennacchia shared with FOX 32 Chicago a simple way to transform those bags into something that can make a real difference for the unhoused.
"So, to learn how to crochet took a little bit of time, but the process is not difficult, and it's easy for anyone to do," said Pennacchia.
This Thursday, around 100 volunteers—including schoolchildren—will gather at St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Church in Palatine to mark 10 years of crafting sleeping mats for the homeless from recycled plastic bags.
The initiative, called TLC (short for "The Linked Cots"), has created 500 mats over the past decade. These mats are distributed to organizations in Palatine and to people sleeping on Lower Wacker Drive in Chicago.
This small effort proves that simple acts of kindness can leave a lasting impact.
"In the winter, it's great to just have a layer to get you off the cold concrete," said Pennacchia.
It’s truly a labor of love—each mat requires 700 plastic bags and takes 30 hours to create.
So, what motivates them to keep going?
"So many layers to this. You know, we're serving the homeless. We're helping them. We're showing them love. We're coming together as a community, rather than being by ourselves and isolated. We're doing something selfless for someone else. We're recycling plastic grocery bags, which is so huge," said Pennacchia.
The group is inviting anyone who wants to lend a hand this Thursday at St. Thomas of Villanova Church.