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By Barbara Cain.
LD9 contributed 308 colored newspaper bags in May to the Sleeping Mats for the Homeless project at The Fountains at La Cholla retirement facility. That was following a wet winter and spring, hence an ample supply of bags. We contributed 58 bags in June, which wasn’t bad considering that carriers don’t use them on dry days. Pat yourself on the back if you contributed! Thank you very much! This is an easy outreach project for our LD9.
Susan Bickel and I went to The Fountains on July 14 to meet with the project’s energetic leader and her “wing girl.” We were impressed with these tireless seniors, and with how beautiful and useful these mats are. Take a close look at Susan’s photos.
Norma Brewester is the project’s current leader. In her spare time, she has crocheted 20 mats since January! Her “wing girl,” Alice Dodge, has made eight mats and is almost finished with the one in the photo. The mats are about 72 inches long and 36 inches wide. Their generous size can accommodate a human and a pet, keeping both off the cold ground or hot concrete. One homeless shelter has even sent some home with women who are finally getting housing and lack a mattress!
The busy ladies and gentlemen who make the mats get together at 2 pm on Saturdays for a work session, a teaching lesson, and socializing. They welcome non-residents to participate. You can learn to smooth the bags and prepare them for cutting into two-to- three-inch strips. You can learn their technique for cutting and turning those strips into a ball of plastic yarn! And they will teach you how to crochet! All for free! It is a lovely place and well air-conditioned. How can you beat that for a cool way to spend a Saturday afternoon?
Meanwhile, we were told we could get everyone in LD9 into the project by gathering plastic grocery-store bags. But remember not to crumple them. Please fold them in half lengthwise, and smooth out any wrinkles. Stack them in a box or in a paper grocery bag. Then take them to an LD 9 meeting and we will see that they get to the Fountains. Or, you can take leave them at the front desk there: 2001 W. Rudasill Rd. Be sure to label them, “From LD9 Democrats.” (Your bags might be worked in with Republican bags but we are all Americans, right?)
The mat makers do not mind if there is printing on the bags. They can be brown, tan or white grocery bags, and any color newspaper bag. Isn’t this better than seeing bags caught on cacti or hanging from a tall weed, or trying to remember to recycle them at the grocery store? Join in!
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