The Commodore Steven Decatur Chapter of the National Society United States Daughters of 1812, has been working diligently on our Service to Veterans Project. The chapter has been collecting plastic bags, such as grocery bags, to use to make plarn (plastic yarn). This plarn is being crocheted into mats to give to homeless veterans in the area to create a barrier between their sleeping bags and the ground to stay warmer and dry. Homelessness is an issue throughout our country and the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland is no exception. It is estimated that about 7.5% of the homeless population are veterans. Many of these veterans refuse to go to shelters and accept outside assistance. Our chapter is working with local agencies to make sure these mats get to the homeless veterans. We are hoping to expand the project into Somerset, Worcester, and Dorchester Counties and help as many of the homeless veterans as possible. It takes about 500 bags to make one mat. Our chapter has been collecting bags from our members, our friends, other chapters, and other various sources. The City of Salisbury is implementing a ban on the use of plastic bags by businesses to their customers, so our chapter is reaching out to local businesses to see if they would be willing to donate their unused plastic bags to our chapter. Not only will this help local veterans, but it is also a way to recycle these bags which would otherwise end up in landfills. Our chapter is always happy to accept any donations of bags for use in this project. Acceptable bags include shopping bags of any size or color, like those used in grocery stores and department stores. Bags that cannot be used include any very thin plastic bags such as produce and newspaper bags. Donations can be made care of Poplar Hill Mansion, 117 Elizabeth St., Salisbury, MD 21801. For more information, please contact Chapter President Sarah Meyers at 410-726-3873 or stephendecaturusd1812@gmail.com.
