This past October, the Student Council at Wylie High School took basic plastic grocery bags and wove them into mats for individuals who are living without shelter in the Abilene community.
Senior Kamryn Johnson, Wylie’s Student Council community service chair, said the process was a learning experience since weaving isn’t an activity she or the others do, but the outcome was well worth it.
“The weaving process definitely wasn’t the easiest. We had two people per loom and four looms, and it took each group from 9 a.m. to about 4 p.m. to make their mat,” said Johnson. “My goal for this project is to hopefully make the smallest difference in someone’s life. I know this isn’t something life changing, but I hope to make it even the slightest bit easier for our unhoused individuals.”
WHS Student Council sponsor Raegan Palacio said the service project was made possible thanks to the outstanding collection efforts of campuses across Wylie ISD and craftsmanship of members of West Junior High’s Kindness Club and Jim Ned High School Student Council.
“We had 16 high school Student Council volunteers, ten WWJH Kindness Club Volunteers, plus their teacher; and we had 4 Jim Ned Student Council volunteers, plus their advisor,” said Palacio.
Palacio estimated that about 12,000 plastic bags were collected with about 936 bags being used to create each mat. The group wove four mats in total. She said they hope to increase the size of the mat; something she believes will require closer to 1,500 bags per mat.
“We hope to use the bags we currently have to make as many mats as we can,” says Palacio. “Then I hope to make this project an annual collaboration with the surrounding schools’ Student Councils.”
By Kristen Johnson