Last November, Kyrja Withers picked up her crochet hook and started crocheting for the first time in years. She made mats not from yarn but from plastic.
“They are lightweight, additionally they are going to keep the water off your body or the blanket,” she said.
The idea came to Withers from a friend, who sent her a Youtube video of how to crochet a sleeping mat from plastic. Withers quickly put her old skill to work and asked friends to help out.
Once the mats are finished, she will be handing them out to the homeless. The mats are also environmentally friendly, something that she advocates for through her series of children books.
Withers is in need for more volunteers and plastic bags. Each mat takes up to 350 plastic bags and several hours to make.
"I personally have been without everything, I have been without anything,” she said. “When someone takes a moment to care it makes all the difference in the world."
Hands of a Goddess is a group started by Withers that helps those in need in the community. She will be taking the mats and giving it directly to those in need.
The drop off location of the plastic bags and mats are at Withers' home located on 6621 Washington Street in New Port Richey.