Statistics show that some 100 billion plastic bags are used by consumers every year. That’s roughly one bag per person per day. Many of these bags end up in landfills or littering the streets.

But one group of high school students has decided to do something useful with these plastic bags. Each day during their free period, a group of Hatboro-Horsham High School students in Pennsylvania meet for Interact Club. They spend their time making “plarn” or plastic yard. Then the plarn is twisted and tied into strips, wound around wooden pegs, and crocheted into sleeping mats for the homeless.

To make one six foot long mat it takes between 500 and 750 plastic bags, but the resulting mat helps retain heat and is also water resistant – both welcome properties by someone who has no place else to sleep.

The mats take months to finish because of how many bags go into each one. Last year the club managed to complete six mats, but this year they are hoping to double that number.

Although it may seem minor to someone who has a regular bed to sleep on, the students involved in the project are very proud of the impact they are making, even if it is just a few people at a time.

Change has to start somewhere and these kids should be applauded for the work they are doing. Watch the video below and be sure to share this story with your family and friends.