Andalusia residents Jennifer Ragland is giving new life to plastic bags when she turns them into mats to sleep on for people who are less fortunate, such as homeless individuals.
Ragland hopes to show the change these bags can make to others through classes on the Andalusia Adult Activity Center.
“I make a sleeping pad for a homeless person. I pick up 700 of the local stores bags. I make them into an easy and simple method. We make plastic yarn and crochet a 6’x3′ mat for homeless people to lay on. They can also take refuge from the elements. They can shelter themselves from the rain, or even cover themselves with it and keep warm. Reusing and recycling plastic bags for the past eight years. My director whom I worked with has created over 200 mats for Crestview,” Ragland said.
The first time she came across the concept when she was visiting her parents with the group known as”Okaloosa Bag Ladies “Okaloosa Bag Lady” located in Crestview.
“I discovered this gorgeous mat in the store and decided to get involved. Many have benefited from the program and included high school students seeking their extracurricular credits to gain community involvement. Director has relationships with the various congregations in Crestview, Niceville, Fort Walton Beach as well as up to Pensacola. When they receive requests for their homeless, we start working on crochet and creating these bags. We donate them to communities and churches, and pick the color of our preference They can be purchased from Amazon.”
According to Ragland her, one mat can take two months, and 700 bags to be completed. She has completed 37 bags so far.
“I have a CashApp which has received donations that will go towards the purchase of a bag with colors which costs around $40. I recycle, reuse bags and recycle them that have been used previously and make them useful. I’ve given bags to the director at Crestview to be given to those in need she has a relationship with. I took them to a number of seniors’ residences. The community has asked how they can do this during their spare time. We host a potluck once every month, and we have a chat with other members about ways we can aid the poorer in the society. It’s an amazing task,” she said.
She said that consistency is essential throughout the entire process.
“When you make them into rings you will get four rings in each bag, that’s around 2800 rings. It’s certainly a procedure that takes a while, however, it’s a free resource we must definitely help our world. It’s not necessary to throw away our trash, but we should reuse these bags to create something useful.”
Ragland was born in Detroit however she moved in Andalusia four and two years ago. She retired as a disabled teacher for 25 years. She taught third and fourth graders in the Dixon Educational Learning Academy in Michigan. The son of her, Camron Ragland, is an officer in the Andalusia Police Department.
“I visited to visit my parents and I fell in love with Andalusia. The people are simply extraordinary. It is for me about feeling of being loved and a one of us in the world. It’s the thing that God would do and He will to aid our less fortunate and poor. It feels good doing that. It’s not all homeless out of necessity however, they are without other way of sustaining themselves. I photograph my art work since it is a long process, but it brings me joy,” she said.
She first went to the Adult Activity Center when she was with her son. She was interested in giving a class on recycling plastic bags.
“When I arrived at the center for activities I was amazed by everything that was happening I thought that it looked amazing with food, activities games, socializing, and the like. The staff was completely amazed by the things I could accomplish with the bags. They were open and informed me that they’d take the time to survey those who are interested in recycling these bags to make mats. I will help you process it, create yarn and even crochet. Individuals can gather every bag they have and take their bags to the centre instead of throwing them away or taking these to the center for recycling.”
After a mat is finished and is disposed of, it will be donated to those who are poor or homeless free of charge.
“These mats are given from the heart. We are charged a fee when we purchase bags of our own and complete the job. We crochet them and then make plastic yarn which turns into amazing mats. It’s a powerful task that makes me feel happy and soothes any pain I’m going through. Save your bags and take your bags to our center or I’ll take them away,” Ragland said.
The Adult Activity Center is located at the address 401 Walker Avenue in downtown Andalusia close to the Ballet. It is open on during the week between 7:15 a.m. until 4 p.m. For more details, contact Ragland by email at jc3rg123@aol.com, call her at 313-310-1419 or contact the centre at 334-222-6891. CashApp donations can be sent to the organization $MaNana’sWorld.
The article Ragland discovers a new use for plastic bags appeared in The Andalusia Star-News.
