Self-proclaimed 'bag ladies' weave plastic bags into sleeping mats for the homeless
A Tennessee church group has recycled tens of thousands discarded plastic bags into sleeping mats for the homeless -- and they don't plan on stopping there.
The group of women, many of whom are elderly, call themselves the "bag ladies," and they meet every Thursday at Second Baptist Church in Union City, Tennessee.
"This is not young ladies doing this. This is older ladies with the arthritis," volunteer Janice Akin told WGN TV in Chicago.
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To make each mat, volunteers cut and roll the bags into strips they have dubbed "plarn" (plastic yarn), then crochet the strips into large rectangles.
Each mat takes about two weeks to complete, according to local reports, Akin said.
"I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's a good feeling to know you're helping someone -- even if just a little bit," she told ABC News.
Some of the mats are locally distributed, while others have been sent to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to help those displaced by the recent floods.
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Chloe was the shopping editor at Mashable. She was also previously a culture reporter. You can follow her on Twitter at @chloebryan.
