The thought of a child sleeping on the ground is what motivates Kuni Schwemmer to stay up late sometimes, cutting neat rows out of used plastic bags.
What's the connection?
The plastic is being used to make durable, easy-to-clean sleeping mats for children in Third World countries.
"When it comes to kids, everything else is beside the point," said Schwemmer, 68. She's crocheted 11 mats so far for Project Love Knots.
The idea started with Pat Hetzel, who was struck by the living conditions of a child she sponsors in Africa. The little one lives in a hut and sleeps on the ground. Hetzel, a parishioner at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, was already making tote bags out of plastic bags to donate to church groups.
"I thought, 'Why can't we make resting mats out of the same bags?' " said Hetzel, 80.
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She mentioned the idea to her daughter-in-law, Lori Hetzel, who is program coordinator with Little Miracles International, an adoption agency based in Amarillo, Texas.
Lori Hetzel and her colleagues thought it was a great idea.
"These Love Knot mats have several uses, from physical-therapy mats to mats that children in Africa can sit or sleep on," said Lori Hetzel. "They are very comfortable and waterproof."
A group of women from Pat Hetzel's church are collaborating on the project. Hetzel doesn't belong to the church's craft group, but she solicited members' help. Over the last four months, she and the craft group have crocheted more than 20 mats.
Joy Granillo said this is the first time the craft group has adopted an international cause. In the past, they've taken on other humanitarian projects, such as making hats for newborn babies.
"It's a way for them to be more comfortable and to have something to call their own," Granillo said of the mat project.
The women meet on Mondays at the church, 1375 S. Camino Seco, to work on the projects.
Florence Vale is happy to be helping.
"This is a nice bunch here, and they do a lot for charity," Vale, 78, said of the church group. Vale said she learned to crochet after her husband died about 44 years ago.
Lori Hetzel said they are planning to first help children in Romania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Russia.
Other groups around the nation are starting to get involved now, she said.
"We are hoping that, by word of mouth, these mats will make a difference for children around the world," she said.
Lori Hetzel said that, in addition to being lightweight and sturdy, the mats are environmentally friendly because they are made of recycled plastic.
Find out more
Want to help or learn more? Call Pat Hetzel at 325-3924.
Contact reporter Patty Machelor at 806-7754 or pmachelor@azstarnet.com.
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