‘Happy Hookers’ make mats for homeless out of plastic bags

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — Homelessness continues to be an issue in the Cape Fear but some ladies in Leland are trying to help by sacking the problem, one mat at a time. They are the Happy Hookers and it all starts with an idea and a bag.

“I thought it seemed worthwhile and thought I’d try it and see if anybody else would,” Mary Campbell, Happy Hookers founder, said.

The organization is dedicated to collecting plastic bags and recycling them into comfortable mats for the homeless.

“I like the idea that it’s going to help somebody. I wish there wasn’t the need that we had to do this. But I’m glad that we’re able to do something that will help someone who’s not in a good place right now,” Teresa Pierce, a volunteer, said.

They have been doing this for a few months and founder, Mary Campbell, sees it as a perfect way to give back.

“It just starts with a plastic bag. It’s just a bag and then what can be done with it. You see somebody using it, riding their bicycle knowing that they got  a dry place to lay down, or something warm to cover up with,” Campbell said.

People have dropped off their used bags and even businesses, like Harris Teeter and CVS, have pitched in and donated bags.

“It is nice to see all these plastic bags aren’t going into a landfill somewhere. We can actually turn them into something that’s useful,” Pierce said.

All they want to do is lend a helping hand to those who need it.

“It’s mostly for the homeless in Brunswick County, but also we have some members of our church who carry them in our car and have given them out in Wilmington and places where they see they need them,” Campbell said.

It takes 1000 bags to make a mat. So, they need as much help as they can get. You can donate bags on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon or Sundays between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at their church at 497 Olde Waterford way, suite 105.

The girls get together on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. if you want to help make mats.