By Grace Flinn

With the harsh winter coming up, the homeless are struggling to find warm and comfortable places to receive shelter.

The Rotary Club has come together to make sleeping mats crocheted out of up-cycled grocery bags for the homeless.

    “The project came from the Rotary Club of Stow-Munroe Falls.  Interact is the high school club connected to the Rotary Club of Stow-Munroe Falls. Rotary brings together a global network of volunteers who dedicate their time and talent to tackle the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members from more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world,” Lisa Mowls said.

      Having a group come together to care for the homeless is changing many lives. The club has a goal of making 50 mats.

      “There were about two dozen adults and teens that met at Rockne’s at Steel Corner’s this past Saturday, Jan. 16 from 9-11.  Anyone can help…you can even help with these ‘plats’ at home.  Rotary has a youtube video out on how to smooth, fold, cut, make plarn (plastic yarn), and then crochet sleeping mats for the homeless,” Mowls said. “The plats also have a handle attached to the roll-up mat so it could be hung over one’s shoulder.”

        Anyone is free to join the current activities of the club, but once the goal is made, the club will give their projects to homeless.

        This is a great opportunity to reevaluate one’s life in the process of giving. The process of making a product for those who are in need allows participants to be grateful for what they have. The next meeting will be at Rockne’s on Steels Corner on Sat., Feb. 6 from 9-11 a.m.

        Mowls said, “[This club] made us more aware that we have many homeless individuals and families in our area, and the winter time is the worse because of the weather hardships.”