Many hands make light work. 
 
Auxiliary members of Unit 25 and Unit 69 in the Department of Florida make sleeping bags and quilts for homeless veterans and others. 
 
Over the years, volunteers have been able to collect over 8,000 plastic bags and bring them to unit members for assembly, keeping them out of the landfill. 

“Hundreds of ALA members as well as citizens provide plastic bags as two communities are involved in the project,” said Joanne Bishop, Unit 25 historian. “It takes approximately six to 10 people to complete one mat. They normally work on more than one mat in a sitting.”
 
Each individual mat takes approximately 850 plastic bags and a week to assemble. The quilters also require days to complete. 
 
This is a constant, year-round project for these units.  
 
For other units that may want to take on a project like this, it’s a chance to demonstrate the Auxiliary’s Service Not Self mindset. 
 
“The teams develop great fellowship and camaraderie while working together to make sure our homeless veterans know they are not forgotten,” she said. “Just knowing what an impact you are making to ensure these veterans are taken care of makes all the difference in the world.”
 
For Bishop, knowing the units are making an impact in the lives of our homeless veterans means so much. 
 
“Two American Legion Auxiliary units that are in close proximity can join together to help our veterans,” she said. “It is unusual and amazing. Sometimes it takes a village.” 
 
Ready to take on this project?
Follow these steps: 
1. Put the word out to members, the community, etc., to drop off plastic grocery bags at your designated location.
2. Flatten bag, fold in half, then again until approximately 2 to 3 inches wide. 
3. Cut the fold into approximately 2 to 3 inch wide pieces.
4. Open a piece (circle) and do the same with the rest of the pieces. Wrap one piece through the other like you would two rubber bands. Stretch them together tightly to form a small knot. Continue knotting the long strips until long enough to form a ball the size of a small soccer ball.
5. Pass ball from baller to crocheters. The crocheters crochet the mats as you would regular yarn to complete a mat approximately 6 or more feet long and 4 or more feet wide.
6. The quilters sew the quilt and pass it to the group that assembles them together.  
7. Distribute to veterans in need.