The Plastic Project: Touching Lives, Inspiring Service

Members of the M.A. Center San Ramon Plastic Project upcycle waste materials to create treasures from trash, transforming discarded soft plastic into purses, wallets and other accessories. Janelle, a satsang member and a life-long crafter, has been inspired through the Plastic Project to use her artistic talents for the well being of the planet. She shared her enthusiasm with Easter Seals, a community organization supporting people with disabilities. The stories below illustrate how one person’s focus and love can radiate out and inspire others.

Janelle’s Story

“I have had a life-long love for crafting.  At one of Amma’s San Ramon programs, I was inspired by the crafts created by the Plastic Project. I decided to try making them on my own. During the past year I have been making wallets and other items at home and bringing them to M.A. Center. My dream is to inspire others to create useful items from what most people would consider to be trash. Often what we think of as "waste" plastic is really just an opportunity to create something new! Let’s use our hands to help to save the earth!”

Inspiring Others

Janelle reached out to the Easter Seals Sacramento sewing project and showed some of their members her wallets made out of discarded Capri Sun containers. Easter Seals Superior California provides programs for people with disabilities, believing they should have an equal opportunity to live, learn, work and play in their community. Lisa, Robert, Chuck, and K.K attend the ACE-IT I Program, which is one of several Adult Day Programs run by the non-profit organization in Sacramento. They were excited and immediately wanted to help. 

Lisa, Robert, Chuck, and K.K’s Story

“We are all very proud to be volunteering for this project. When Janelle gave us the idea about the Capri Sun wallets, we were thrilled to become involved. We receive a lot of support from others in our community, and it gives us great pleasure to be able to give something back."

"This project has been a great way for us to practice some of our independent living skills such as organization, hand-eye coordination, hygiene, and thriftiness. We've only been at it since last fall, and we've already washed and donated hundreds of juice pouches that have been used to create the wallets sold at Amma’s programs.  The sales benefit Amma's charities. If you'd like to learn more about us, you can visit Easter Seals. And if Amma ever decides to visit Sacramento, we'd love to be hugged!"

Sharing the Joy

The M.A. Center Craft Guild is happy to announce that this June, Janelle will have the opportunity to show Amma the wallets she and the Easter Seals volunteers have created. The wallets will be on display and for sale at the program. Come visit the GreenFriends table at Amma’s June San Ramon program to see these beautiful upcycled creations yourself.