JCI (Junior Chamber Ireland,) Mayo branch, has partnered with an initiative, to use clean foil lined crisp packets and make them into either survival blankets or sleeping bags for homeless people nationally.
The Crisp Packet Project originated in the UK, and two women from Roscommon, Karen Burke and Jackie Gunning, saw the need for it in Ireland too. It takes 75 crisp packets to make one of the survival blankets and 150 bags to make the sleeping bags. The foil lining reflects heat back into the body, while the strong materials in the crisp packet, plus the plastic fused on to the packets, makes this a supple strong long lasting material.
These blankets will then be given to vulnerable people who are living on the streets so that this winter they have something warm for sleeping. It’s important to note that it isn’t limited to just Tayto, any clean, foil-lined packet will work.
JCI Mayo are encouraging as many people as possible to help them, so they can help others.
By donating the cleaned crisp bags you are recycling and helping the homeless and rescue services, so it really is a win win,” says Deborah McHugh, the 2020 JCI Mayo Director of Community.
There is a short video on the JCI Mayo Facebook page on how to cut & clean the crisp packets, and everyone is invited to build up a few packets and then leave them into the box inside the door of Demure Beauty in Castlebar.
As this collection point might not suit people from other areas of Mayo, JCI Mayo invite people to get in touch with them regarding further collections.
They will continue to keep the collection open until January 8th so there will be time for people to drop off their donations after the festive season.
