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on November 16, 2010 at 11:37:06 am

Recycling Milk Bags into Bed Mats for Haiti 2010

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

These washable, quick-dry bed mats provide an alternative to sleeping on the damp, hard ground. Medical teams in Haiti have found them invaluable and the milk bags can also be crocheted into tote bags and other useful items. They are made from the plastic of the colourful outer milk bag which holds the three smaller clear bags inside.

Would you like to learn how to be involved in this recycle project:

Collecting, Cutting, Rolling or Crocheting ?

Would you like to deliver Bags or Mats from Ottawa to Hamilton or Michigan?

Do you live outside of Ottawa and are looking for a group near your home?

For more information or to book a workshop leader for your group, contact: Admin

Please mention what area you are from (eg Orleans, Aylmer, Centertown, Kanata, Barrhaven etc)

Special Note: Due to a wonderful, positive and slightly overwhelming response (over 130 interested people) to the article in the Citizen there is a backlog of emails to process. Will respond within a couple days. Next workshop will likely be Sat Nov 27 or Sat Dec 4 - date will be posted here by Nov 18.

Past and Future Workshops listed here

Why?

To help the environment by recycling plastic milk bags – give them a practical use while they take many years to decompose.
To help people who are sleeping on the ground or on leaf/reed mats. It protects them from dampness, biting insects and the common ‘paper cuts’ from leaves/reeds. The sleeping mats are easy to wash/dry. There is a desperate need for the homeless in Haiti since the earthquake.
To provide surgical beds for medical teams in makeshift hospitals. There is a desperate need in Haiti since the earthquake.
To provide packing material for the Aid containers which are shipped to 3^rd world countries.
To provide other helpful items like carry bags and teddy bears to 3^rd world countries.

Who?

There is a province-wide network of more than 70 small groups who have been working on this project for about 6 years. The coordinator is Dianne Scott in Dunnville, Ontario. These groups include schools, churches, Scouts & Guides, seniors groups, knitting/crochet clubs etc.

Local groups: Bells Corners United Church

Beta Sigma Phi (Laureate Phi Chapter)

Katimavik Public School

D.A. Moodie Public School

Busy Hands (Brockville)

How?

Step 1: Collect bag. Make sure it is clean. Lay flat

Step 2: Trim off both ends to make it into a tube with clean edges

Step 3: Cut into one long strip or cut into loops and string them together

Step 4: Roll the plastic strips into a ball like yarn (or save in a bag)

Step 5: Use a size 7 or 8 mm crochet hook. Chain stitch until 36" wide then single crochet until mat measures 60" long. For a child’s mat use 30” x 48”

Note: we have prepared extra boxes of milk bags which have completed steps 1 & 2. we will be happy to give a box to you. Great for new startup groups.

For more information about this province-wide project:

Stories from a missionary who delivers mats to Haiti http://www.recorder.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2807264

Video of Sudbury group making mats http://www.sudbury24.ca/media/2791/Creating_sleeping_mats_out_of_milk_bags/

Milk bag mats used for Haiti relief and medical supplies http://www.shorelinebeacon.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2368487&auth=

Video how to cut bags into strips http://wsuc.blogspot.com/2009/02/cutting-milk-bags-for-sleeping-mats.html

Video how to cut and crochet Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN0VZZXkf-I&feature=related

Video how to cut and crochet Part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht5AQLfYr1A&feature=related

Video how to cut and crochet Part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUJEsjOw_Pw&feature=related

Video how to avoid knots http://wsuc.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-to-avoid-knots-when-crocheting.html

Milk bag project info with link to Instructions & FAQ http://www.nbbc.ca/index_milkbag.htm

Slideshow of a mat travelling from Ontario to a new home in Haiti http://www.nwhcm.ca/oldsite/Gallery/MatPPT/MatPPT_1.htm

Missionaries taking mats to Haiti http://www.nwhcm.ca/mats4haiti.htm