Founded in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2017, Bags to Beds aims to reduce plastic waste while creating a resource for individuals experiencing homelessness. We utilize plastic waste to create sleeping mats and get them to those in need.
Bags to Beds was founded in 2017 by Kaitlin McLean, an undergraduate student at the University of Utah. She was volunteering with several other organizations and passionate about helping the community, and like many, was dismayed by growing numbers of community members forced to spend winter nights on the street. With the help of a YouTube video, her mom (a prolific crocheter), and mentors at the Bennion Center (campus community service center), the first service project with Bags to Beds was a successful plarn-making event with Utah Athletics in the winter of 2017. The idea was simple enough- cut plastic bags in to strips, tie the strips in to yarn, and crochet that yarn in to thick, insulating sleeping mats.
In the years since, volunteers have worked countless hours to provide hundreds of sleeping mats for the thousands who spend snowy nights on the streets of Salt Lake City. New chapters have grown across the country, in cities such as Las Vegas, NV and Boynton Beach, Florida, where volunteers are using the Bags to Beds idea, methods, and service mindset to create positive change in their neighborhoods.
Kaitlin is now a third-year medical student, and the Bags to Beds volunteers everywhere have surpassed her wildest dreams. For any part you've played in this journey- gathering bags, teaching at events, creating plarn, fundraising, or crocheting- thank you!!
In the years since, volunteers have worked countless hours to provide hundreds of sleeping mats for the thousands who spend snowy nights on the streets of Salt Lake City. New chapters have grown across the country, in cities such as Las Vegas, NV and Boynton Beach, Florida, where volunteers are using the Bags to Beds idea, methods, and service mindset to create positive change in their neighborhoods.
Kaitlin is now a third-year medical student, and the Bags to Beds volunteers everywhere have surpassed her wildest dreams. For any part you've played in this journey- gathering bags, teaching at events, creating plarn, fundraising, or crocheting- thank you!!
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Volunteer Hours:
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2022 Salt Lake City Mat Progress:
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