My post in 2010  about Mats for Haiti has brought 35 responses, which have included people sharing information, a school saving bags for the project, individuals looking for bags to start a mat-making project, people wanting to share bags they’ve collected, as well as requests for information on making the bags.

In the process,  fellow writer Jan Cox connected me with Violet Ropp, also in Ontario, who has been active in facilitating mat-making groups. She knows two individuals who cut the bags and have come up with their own cutting tools.

One group that makes mats from milk bags went to a school and showed them the cutting tool and how it works. People at the school had collected 1000 milk bags for the project. Violet allowed me to share the photos on my blog that it may help other groups.

Photo one—”Roller Loom” [made by an area man] and Photo two—Milk Bag being cut

In the interest of helping other groups, the Woodlawn Group has provided construction details for the loom for those who wish to make their own loom.

Loom Dimensions:

Dressed Lumber  2 — 2 x 8 x 20 inches    sides

1 — 2 x 8 x 27 inches     bottom

1 — 2 x 4 x 25 inches  for stabilizer at bottom insert.

4 — 1 1/2 inch x 20 inches to create grove for PVC pipes

4 — 1 1/4 X 3 inch slats (to place under PVC pipes)

Long screws to screw the bottom and sides together. Add glue before tightening.

Short screws for the side peices, as shown before.(The sides are fitted snuggly for the PVC pipe you have for this project.)

PVC Pipe   2 —-  2 inch x 25 inch, to fit into the grove. The bottom PVC pipe can be smaller if that is what is available.

Look closely, and you will see a nail at the “side” towards the top. A hole has been drilled, so that the nail goes into the PVC pipe, and therefore the top roller can be used as a handle for easy carrying!!

This person says to keep a  dryer sheet inside the top roller so you can rub the PVC pipe to keep stop the static and  the rolling easy. For anyone with sensitivity to these scented sheets, perhaps a small set of cloth dryer sheets would work. It’s worth a try.

Another individual who makes the loom roller is Norman Yost. You can call [519 656-2485] or write to him [6115 Deborah Glaister Line, RR 2 Wellesley, Ontario N0B 2T0].

Current groups making mats:

At St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 9 Douro Street, Stratford, ON: meets every Monday 2-4 pm to work together. Contacts for this group are Jeanne and Ray Ford, 13 Battershall Court, Stratford (519 273-1464) and Donna Simpson, 169 Norman Street , Stratford (519 271-4859) [note corrections on time and address]

Collecting bags at school: Leanne Gabel at Mornington Public School 519-595-8995    Email:leangabe@fcamdsb.ca

Cassie Peters   [cpeeters@catholic.org ] moved to Wingham and is in school there. Send an email to see how she’d doing.

The Woodlawn Group is still collecting, cutting and crocheting mats.  Meets once monthly. Contact source: Violet & Christian Ropp chviropp@porchlight.ca      (519) 595-4001

IFM says, “If any mats are coming to Tina’s organization, we need them before the end of January for the next load. They are very busy with cholera patients at this time.”

Thank you, Violet, for all of this information. I hope it’s helpful for people looking to start or continue projects.

Note: These mats are made from second-hand material and are not for sale at any price; they are intended only for poor and destitute people in Haiti.