From Plastic Bags to Purpose: Flint River Presbytery’s Creative Mission in Action

Flint River Presbytery works together in support of mission projects. From toothbrushes and toothpaste, to school supplies, to aluminum cans turned into a cash to purchase hard to find and expensive over-the-counter medicines for a clinic in the Dominican Republic, churches collect items which are brought to Presbytery meetings. With a number of smaller congregations and churches in rural areas and smaller towns, this coordination of effort is a way members thoughtfulness and generosity makes a BIG difference in their region and world.

Recently they were collecting plastic bags for the Dominican clinic so they could easily hand out supplies when there for a medical mission trip. They had SO many plastic bags, they couldn't take them all! They didn't want to "get rid" of them, so they looked for another way to use the bags. They've discovered that many congregations already recycle those plastic bags into braided mats that can be used as sleeping pads for people experiencing homelessness. They are looking to work within each cluster of their Presbytery to begin a NEW project to make good use of bags that might otherwise end up in a landfill. In the meantime, everyone is back to saving and collecting their plastic grocery bags!

Perhaps this is a mission idea you or someone you know would be interested in starting? What a good way to build community and connection among participants, use resources wisely, care and show compassion and God’s love for others (and the Earth), and make a difference.

Here are a few videos that describe the project and how the mats are crocheted:

Story about an Arizona retirement community with members gathering weekly to make sleeping mats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNAqgwZC7q8

A little bit of the how to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JNe-hce0sY