Triton College RSVP Volunteers Turn 10,000 Plastic Bags Into Sleeping Mats for Local Shelter

RIVER GROVE, Ill. — Following a monthslong volunteer effort, Triton College’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) will donate handmade sleeping mats crafted from upcycled plastic grocery bags to Housing Forward’s Anderson Emergency Shelter in Oak Park for people experiencing homelessness.

Between October and December of last year, RSVP collected 10,000 plastic bags from the community. Volunteers transformed them into nine sleeping mats, each complete with a carrying strap and a small pillow. The mats will be presented to Anderson Emergency Shelter, 112 S. Humphrey Ave. in Oak Park, on Tuesday, July 7, at 11 a.m.

According to Mario Porras, director of Triton RSVP, 75 volunteers contributed more than 1,000 hours to the project. After the bags were collected, volunteers flattened and folded them, cut them into strips and tied them together to create plastic yarn, commonly known as "plarn." They then wove the plarn into durable sleeping mats using looms.

"The mats provide a cushion between a person and a hard surface and because they are plastic, they can be reused even if they get wet," said Porras. "We used every piece of the bag for this project. The pieces we couldn't use, like the handles and bottoms of the bags, were used as pillow filling and to make the carrying straps for the mats."

RSVP is a grant-funded organization that pairs adults age 55 and older with volunteer opportunities throughout the community. Triton College has sponsored RSVP since 1983 through AmeriCorps Seniors.

Triton RSVP has a long history of partnering with local organizations to address homelessness and food insecurity, Porras said. In the past, the group has provided meals and nonperishable food items to shelters and food pantries. When one volunteer proposed making sleeping mats from recycled bags in late 2024, Porras immediately recognized the project’s potential to benefit both people and the environment.

"It's a win-win for everyone involved. We are recycling plastic bags so they don't end up in landfills, helping those who are homeless by providing them with a cushion from a hard surface, and helping senior citizens stay active while supporting their community."

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Media Contacts:
Melissa Ramirez Cooper | melissacooper@triton.edu | 708-456-0300, Ext. 3496
Hunter Oberst | hunteroberst@triton.edu | 708-456-0300, Ext. 3820

ABOUT TRITON COLLEGE:
Triton College, located at 2000 Fifth Ave., River Grove, is a public institution of higher education dedicated to student success. Recently recognized by the Aspen Institute as one of the Top 200 community colleges in the nation, Triton offers more than 130 degree and certificate programs that prepare students to pursue meaningful careers, transfer to four-year universities, and thrive in a global economy. Guided by our mission—Valuing the individual, educating and serving the community—Triton serves nearly 17,000 students annually on its 110-acre campus in River Grove, Illinois. Our dedicated faculty and staff provide high-quality, accessible and affordable educational opportunities that empower students and strengthens the communities we serve. Triton College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of The Illinois Community College Board. Illinois is home to 45 colleges in 39 community college districts. Learn more at triton.edu.