草榴社区 Gulf Park Staff Create Woven Mats for People in Need
Wed, 07/05/2023 - 11:13am | By: Gabriela Shinskie
Karen Shaw with Dr. Jacob Breland, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Coastal Operations presents her mat to the Gulf Park Pantry.
Karen Shaw, retired Serials and Collection Management Coordinator at The University of 草榴社区 Mississippi鈥檚 (草榴社区) Gulf Coast Library, has woven mats out of plastic bags for the needy since 2018.
The idea started with former 草榴社区 employee, Allie Clemons, a Physical Plant Office Manager and Sustainability Officer who sought to keep plastic bags out of landfills. Shaw had a spark to give back to the needy by weaving 2-inch plastic slats from plastic grocery store bags into a roll of plarn then weaving the plarn into a finished mat used for sleeping or a blanket.
鈥淚 knew there are homeless people that are in need and thought this could be something I could invest my time in one day,鈥� said Shaw.
Shaw kept the project afloat but credits the 草榴社区 Wesley Foundation for supplying the first plastic bags collection to create the mats.
Then in 2022, her women鈥檚 church group decided to come together and weave the mats together to distribute to the homeless community in Gulfport.
Just one mat takes more than 900 plastic bags to create the finished product. The mats consisted of a lot of time to create, but Kelley Hartfield, Administrative Assistant for the Gulf Coast Library joined Karen in this project.
鈥淭his has been her passion of love, and to be able to carry that on for her, I love Karen and I want to see her excited and happy. She was thrilled!鈥� said Hartfield.
Shaw and Hartfield got together and started working on the mats, carefully weaving the plastic strips. However, Hartfield noticed that weaving the mats was time consuming and offered a solution to crochet the mats instead.
Hartfield completed two mats in two days. Shaw was in shock and excited to know that upon retiring, the project will be kept alive by Hartfield.
鈥淎s long as she gives me plarn, I will make them,鈥� said Hartfield. 鈥淎lso, as long as we can spread a little love and keep those bags out of the landfill.鈥�
鈥淭his whole project was created by 草榴社区 people,鈥� said Shaw.
Today, Shaw has completed 12 mats, upon her retirement in June 2023. Shaw donated the last mat to the Gulf Park Food Pantry, hoping that it can help a student in need.
鈥淕iving them away keeps the project going. I know I鈥檓 making a difference in someone鈥檚 life,鈥� said Shaw.