Plainfield Outreach Gives New Life to Old Bags

A Plainfield mom is bringing a Chicago outreach effort into the suburbs.

Andi Vanderhoek said after her mother, Donna Morrow, got involved with New Life for Old Bags, she wanted to bring the project to Plainfield. Founded three years ago, the program recycles plastic bags by using them to weave sleep mats for the homeless.

“One sleep mat saves 500 plastic bags and keeps them out of landfills and waterways,” Vanderhoek said. “It’s a really nice family activity, and it’s good for the environment and it teaches kids to give back to the community.”

Recently, Vanderhoek launched a New Life for Old Bags chapter at the Plainfield Public Library. The group meets from 10 a.m. to noon the third Saturday of every month, and anyone can participate, she said.

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“The thing I love about it is it’s free to participate and even kids can do it,” Vanderhoek said. The process involves folding, cutting and looping plastic bags to make plastic yard to crochet sleep mats, which are distributed at RTW Veteran Center on Chicago’s southwest side.

“What they call it is ‘upcycling’ plastic bags,” Vanderhoek said, adding volunteers don’t have to know how to crochet to help. District 202’s Lincoln Elementary has been collecting plastic bags for the Plainfield chapter.

“As manpower increases, so will our demand for bags,” but currently, the group does not have a need for additional bags, Vanderhoek said.

Anyone who would like to get involved can email Vanderhoek at nlob@ymail.com for more information. There is also a Facebook group dedicated to the program.

The next Plainfield New Life for Old Bags meeting is from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 18, at the library, 15025 S. Illinois St.