BUFFALO, N.Y. — ​A local organization in Buffalo is proving that one man's trash is another man's treasure. 'Mats for a Mission' is helping the homeless and the environment at the same time by recycling plastic bags. Now, the 4 year-old mission is being helped by people across the country.

"To date, we have distributed 502 sleeping mats for homeless," said Gail Potter, the organizer of Mats for a Mission. 

Since 2016, Mats for a Mission members have put their hearts, souls and time into their charity work.

What You Need To Know

  • To date, 502 sleeping mats have been given out to the homeless in Buffalo

  • Each mat takes about 750 plastic bags to make

  • It takes about 70 hours to make a mat

  • With New York State's plastic bag ban, universities and companies from eastern seaboard have been sending plastic bags up to NY

"750 bags on average to make just this sleeping bag and 50 hours to crochet," she explained.

Potter, the woman behind mission, says their other purpose is helping the environment.

"We've kept a million bags out of landfills because we stock pile," she added.

The mats are given out in Buffalo, but their mission has gone beyond the 716. Just recently, Potter says they've gotten plastic bags donated from universities, like James Madison in Virginia, high schools and other other companies across the nation.

"Massachusetts all the way down to North Carolina, they were shipping up their bags to us. We probably got 100 big boxes full of plastic bags that they sent to us," said Potter.

With New York's plastic bag ban, social media has helped voice their need for bags. 

Making a mat isn't exactly easy.

"After sorted and flattened, you cut off both ends. With each set of bags you get 4 strips," she showed.

Once cut, the strips are tied into "plarn," aka plastic balls of yarn.

"I can't crochet, that's why I do this part, that's why you're a stripper," laughed two volunteers, Judy and Nancy

Don't worry - these are actual crocheting terms. The secret life of crocheting - who would have known?

"The vibrant colors were Toys and Babies R Us," Potter explained.

Bags that once carried items we needed, re-created into items of comfort - for people who truly need it.

"They are living on the streets. give them something bright and cheerful," she said.

Crocheting their way to making Buffalo, and ultimately the world, a better place.