What do you usually do with your empty chip bags?
I'm guessing you throw them away which means they go into the land fill! These bags do not break down naturally which means they stick around forever in the piles of trash that are all around us.
This is a problem that Eradajere Oleita, a teacher from Detroit has solved! She started collecting chip bags to wash them and adhere them together to make sleeping bags for the homeless! What an amazing way to solve two very large problems at once! She has collected millions of bags to make and distribute them around Detroit. She has helped so many people stay warm and ultimately alive in the process!
Check out her website and some stories about her here:
Former Detroit teacher launches nonprofit turning used potato chip bags into sustainable gear
Meet the Activist Turning Old Potato Chip Packets Into Sleeping Bags for Homeless People
What does this have to do with what is happening her in our community?
How can you help with this project?
Sophia Miller (13) and her mom Annalicia Miller heard about what Eradajere Oleita was doing in Detroit and decided to do the same here in Colorado Springs. Sophia since she was 5 years old has wanted to take care of people in her community, from feeding the homeless to participating in every charitable event she could. So when she saw this project she went to her mom to help her start doing this. The Chip Up Project is a much more sustainable way to give back.
Annalicia has even talked to some of the unhomed people to ask how they felt about it. She has said the people she has talked to are excited about it as these blankets will be waterproof and lighter than normal blankets. We have a smaller population that will use these than they do in Detroit, but each and every person out there is someone we are responsible for as we have been put here to care for one another.
Annalicia and Sophia are looking for help with this endeavor in multiple ways.
- Collecting of chip bags (any size or brand)
- Chip bag collecting locations
They do have two collection locations right now:
Omi's Alpenrose German Deli
47 Widefield Blvd Colorado Springs, Co. 80911
Stompin' Groundz
2050 Jet Wing Dr. Colorado Springs, Co. 80916
If you're a small local business that would like to help and become a drop off location please reach out to me or Annalicia Miller on Facebook.
