Luther Woods Residents Use Hearts and Hands to Help the Homeless

By Debra Forman

The true test of someone’s character is caring about others.

It is clear by the words and deeds of the Luther Woods Nursing & Rehab Center's residents, volunteers, and family members that they clearly understand what caring for and reaching out to others is all about.

As a result, they are reaching out to area homeless people through a local agency that provides services to the homeless in the area, The Advocates for the Homeless and For Those In Need.

Many residents of Luther Woods, who range in age from 80-100, along with staff, volunteers and family members, are constantly using their busy hands and caring hearts to reach out to the homeless, by both crocheting and weaving mats out of plastic shopping bags. Yes, plastic shopping bags!

The second batch of 10-12 mats will be donated on Friday, October 28, at 10:30 a.m., at Luther Woods, located at 313 W. County Line Road in Hatboro.

Some 30,000 plastic shopping bags have been gratefully donated to Luther Woods Nursing & Rehab by local grocery and chain stores, as well as by staff, family members and volunteers.

This community outreach project benefits and helps everyone that it touches. It takes an estimated 500-700 plastic shopping bags to make these durable, easy to carry, and comfortable mats.

The bags come in, new and used, then the residents and volunteers flatten them out, trim the handles and seam off, cut four strips from the bags, then loop the strips together and roll in a ball. Then off they go either be crocheted, or woven into the mats on a loom donated by resident, Yvette Pattison’s grandson, Daniel.

The residents involved at Luther Woods Nursing & Rehab Center, say the plastic bag mats are helping to improve the lives of local men and women. They say they are thrilled to use their hearts and hands to help with this community outreach project to help the homeless.

“This homeless outreach effort is such a positive program for the community,” says Randie Duretz, the Director of Activities & Volunteers.“Our residents are not sitting and staring out the windows all day long. Instead they are in their seats and on their feet, trying to help those in need,” Duretz says. “Everyone is busy as bees; surrounded by 30,000 plastic shopping bags, crocheting and weaving on a loom, knowing they will be donated to those in need."

Luther Woods residents, staff and family members urge everyone in the community to join them on this caring journey.

They know that everyone will be inspired by seeing the “grandma’s” and “grandpa’s” surrounded by plastic shopping bags, with wide smiles on their faces and the deep satisfaction of knowing that they are helping others.

For further information about getting involved with the Luther Woods homeless mat project, please contact: Randie Duretz, Luther Woods, Director of Activities & Volunteers, by phone at: 215-675-5005 or e-mail: rdd000001@aol.com. Or go to www.lutherwoods.org