Materializing comfort: The Mats Project seeks volunteers to help the homeless

Materializing comfort: The Mats Project seeks volunteers to help the homeless Thu, Aug 20, 2026 (2 a.m.) At The Mats Project’s Sunday meetup at Centennial Hills Library, about a dozen volunteers cheerfully turn plastic bags into “plarn.” They use scissors on donated, defective bags, cutting them into strips and looping the pieces together to form a continuous string that can be used to create 6‑by‑3‑foot sleeping mats. The inaugural effort of the nonprofit Crochet Class (crochetclass.org) donates the mats to Shine A Light Foundation, which distributes them to the unhoused in the Valley. Founder Merri Medley says The Mats Project didn’t begin with any effect money. It started with teaching people to crochet. “I did some probe and recovered that crochet has a batch of wellness benefits. It’s almost similar a benignant of therapy. It engages some the close and near hemispheres of the encephalon when you’re counting stitches, changing colors, those types of activities—especially for seniors, helps support america mentally crisp and helps our focus,” Medley says. A prime fig of volunteers know how to crochet mats and can thatch some volunteers who privation to learn. In addition to crochet, the nonprofit recently developed a peg loom for weaving. The materials were bought with proceeds from a $3,000 donation from the section culinary lawsuit Vegas Unstripped. “The loom has tripled the nonprofit’s productivity threshold,” Medley says, adding that, as of June, the Mats Project has already donated 140 mats to the stateless and their “fur babies.” At Centennial Hills Library, crocheting or weaving mats is “not hard labor,” says one volunteer. “It’s an accidental to socialize and marque a quality in someone’s day.” “We donate drawstring bags filled with mundane essentials, including a small enactment to recipients to punctual them they are loved, they bash substance and they are valued,” Medley says. “When we spell retired and administer them, I announcement that they work the enactment first. They don’t conscionable dive into the kit and look for the nutrient items. They instantly work the note. That conscionable touches your heart.” THE MATS PROJECT Find unpaid event dates and locations at https://crochetclass.org/the-mats-project Thread the needle: Socialize with fibre arts The ongoing Cielo Tejido task at East Las Vegas Library is actively moving forward on knitting hexagons in support of the library’s art installation leading up to Día de los Muertos. This session is specifically for beginner crocheters to learn the five patterns that will be used to make a entity canopy. August 29, 10 a.m., 2851 E. Bonanza Road. Geared toward ages 12 to 17, Crochet Corner takes place Teen Tuesday at Enterprise Library. September 1, 4 p.m., 8310 Las Vegas Blvd. South. Keep it low‑stakes at Fiber Arts Lounge at Sunrise Library Auditorium, where you’re invited to bring your own project and simply meet other makers who have a passion for crochet and knitting. September 2 & 9, 5 p.m., 5400 E. Harris Ave. Teens grades 6‑12 are invited to join in punch needle, crochet and felting at the Fiber Arts Club at Windmill Library. Those who are interested can also obtain their sewing certification. September 3, 3 p.m., 7060 W. Windmill Lane. In the Loop invites needle crafters to bring their work to a social setting and unwind with crafting and conversation. September 6, 10:30 a.m., 6711 N. Buffalo Drive. Visit https://thelibrarydistrict.org for more event information. Shannon Miller joined Las Vegas Weekly in early 2022 as a staff writer covering news. She assumed the role of … Get more Shannon Miller ▶ (Note: The bio text is preserved exactly as it appeared in the source.)