Sleeping mat project keeping Brooklyn card group busy helping others

​      Terri Possehn, right, her mother, Beverly McCammant, third from left, Beverly Kies and Lucy Axmear, left, and others show off a sleeping mat they made using plastic shopping bags donated by Terri’s sister, Joan. The sleeping mat was one of about 15 that recently was donated to Bidwell Pantry in Des Moines to give to the homeless. It takes about 4-5 hours to make one mat. The group is looking for others who are interested in helping make sleeping mats to get involved. Submitted photo.

By J.O. Parker
 
           Bringing glory to God and helping those in need is something a group of Brooklyn woman have taken to heart.
            Terri Possehn, along with her mother, Beverly McCammant, and friends, Beverly Kies and Lucy Axmear, have been gathering weekly at her brother’s shop in rural Malcom since June to cut, tie and weave sleeping mats using plastic shopping bags.
         The group recently delivered 15 plus sleeping mats to the Bidwell Pantry in Des Moines. The pantry, which is located off S.E. 14th St., provides food, clothing and basic essentials to those in need.
       There is also a child development center, new directions shelter and the home connection, which provides compassionate, life-changing assistance to families on a journey to self-sufficiency.
            “They serve 600 people a week with food, clothing, shelter and other services,” said Possehn.
          The sleeping mats, which are about twin mattress size, are handed out to the homeless. Possehn said the sleeping mats are water repellant and they retain body heat.
           The sleeping mat project came about earlier this year when the four women started a weekly card club.   The group heard about the mats and went on a road trip to Midwest Missions of Iowa in Jefferson to learn more about the project and organization.
           The organization has multiple missions, one of which is the sleeping mats outreach.
           The project was a perfect fit for the group.
         Possehn said Midwest Missions sent someone to Brooklyn to teach them how to make the sleeping mats.
            “We have been figuring it out as we go,” said Possehn.
         Since starting the project, Possehn said the generosity of people has been overwhelming. Even Possehn’s sister, Joan, who lives in Arizona, donated some shopping bags to the project. In fact, her donation was enough to make one entire sleeping mat.
            Plastic bags from Indiana, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas and a lot of towns in Iowa have also been donated to the group.
           Possehn said the biggest need right now is more hands on deck to keep the project going. Possehn said her hope is to purchase another loom and make it a traveling loom where others can get involved in the project.
            Possehn said it takes from 4 – 5 hours to make one mat. The process includes flatting out the shopping bags, folding them into threes, cutting off the end pieces and cutting the bags into pieces before tying them together.
           “Basically, we are making thread and using a loom to weave it all together,” said Possehn.
           When asked how many plastic bags are in a sleeping mat, Possehn said due to the varying sizes of bags, there is no way to tell.
         The leftover scraps are saved and returned to Midwest Missions where they are recycled and used to make park benches.
          The group meets on Wednesdays from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
          To learn more, reach out to Possehn via email at: [email protected].
          Possehn said this project is about doing God’s work and helping others.    
        “It’s an open mission for anyone who wants to join,” said Possehn. “There is something everyone can do.”

      From left, Lucy Axmear, Beverly McCammant and Beverly Kies use a loom to make a sleeping mat from plastic shopping bags. The bags are cut and tied together then placed in a loom for weaving into a finished product. The trio of ladies, along with Terri Possehn and others have been making the sleeping mats since June. The group learned about the project and outreach following a visit to Midwest Missions in Jefferson. Submitted photo.

​       From left, Lucy Axmear, Beverly McCammant and Beverly Kies show some of the sleeping mats they made using plastic shopping bags. Earlier this month, the ladies along with Terri Possehn, delivered about 15 of the sleeping mats to Bidwell Pantry in Des Moines to give to the homeless. The group is looking for others who are interested in getting involved in making sleeping mats for the homeless. Submitted photo.