With Scissors, Crochet Hook and Willing Hands

New mothers are given a tote bag with a set of clothes, diapers, and cleaning supplies. New patients are given a tote bag with a washcloth, bar of soap, towel etc. Their personal belongings are kept safe in the bag during surgery. 

This project had been going since at least 2004 . It originated in south-west Ontario.

200-500 Milk bags make a large sleeping mat (more milk bags make a thicker mat)

Shipping bed mats was abandoned because of red tape until someone came up with the idea of using the mats as packing material for Aid Supplies. (Like bubble wrap).

Since then Mats have been shipped to many countries around the world where people are sleeping on the ground with no protection

Mats are collected in Aid warehouse like Mats are collected in Aid warehouse like this one in Hamilton. this one in Hamilton.

For me, it started as a Youth Environmental project at my For me, it started as a Youth Environmental project at my church in Apr 2009. I learned about it from the internet and church in Apr 2009. I learned about it from the internet and soon our whole community was collecting milk bags. soon our whole community was collecting milk bags.

Persevered as a small group offering workshops Persevered as a small group offering workshops

In Nov 2010 great media coverage the project ‘exploded’ with In Nov 2010 great media coverage the project ‘exploded’ with interest across Ottawa and suddenly I had hundreds of people interest across Ottawa and suddenly I had hundreds of people of all ages eager to helpof all ages eager to help

Over 30 workshops in the last 4 months, groups from Lanark to Over 30 workshops in the last 4 months, groups from Lanark to Cornwall to Gatineau. Continues to grow every day. Cornwall to Gatineau. Continues to grow every day.

300 mats sent to Haiti and 42 to Tanzania since last November300 mats sent to Haiti and 42 to Tanzania since last November

Anyone can join in. I have done workshops with kindergartens and people in their 90’s and every age in-between.

Many talents required – collectors, cutters, crocheters, organizers, drivers, writers, workshop leaders, etc

Anyone can be a leader – - 5 year old has done demonstrations for a workshop - eight 13 year olds from Broadview PS volunteered to come to another school to help lead a workshop. - ladies proud to be over 80 leading workshops while their husbands man the telephones and help with the deliveries.

Built bridges between people because it welcomes everyone, environmentalists, humanitarians and people of every different faith.

• To save plastic from the landfillTo save plastic from the landfill

• To help reach out and help those who are sleeping on the To help reach out and help those who are sleeping on the ground with no protection.ground with no protection.

• To help the hospitals and clinic of Haiti to provide surgical To help the hospitals and clinic of Haiti to provide surgical and recovery mats.and recovery mats.

• For companionship as a member of a community doing For companionship as a member of a community doing something meaningful together.something meaningful together.

Whatever the personal reasons, this project has built local Whatever the personal reasons, this project has built local communities and an extended interfaith community of people communities and an extended interfaith community of people who are helping the environment and helping people to help who are helping the environment and helping people to help people.people.

• Meaningful Goal Meaningful Goal - passion, willing to do ‘weird’ things- passion, willing to do ‘weird’ things

• PerseverancePerseverance -when things are going too slow and when -when things are going too slow and when they are going too fastthey are going too fast

• Communication / Education Communication / Education -give people the information -give people the information they need in the format that they like to learn (presentations, they need in the format that they like to learn (presentations, hands-on, internet videos, one-on-one tutoring etchands-on, internet videos, one-on-one tutoring etc

• EmpowermentEmpowerment -let go of control, give people choices, and -let go of control, give people choices, and encourage them to do as much as they want to doencourage them to do as much as they want to do

• CreativityCreativity -minimal rules, allow people to find their best way -minimal rules, allow people to find their best way of doing things and a offer a forum for sharing ideas with others of doing things and a offer a forum for sharing ideas with others

www.recyclemilkbags.pbworks.comwww.recyclemilkbags.pbworks.com