Written by Aditi Justa

Getting wet in the rain might seem like a lot of fun to you, but not to those without a roof over their heads. A shiver runs down my spine thinking of those millions of Haitians getting drenched with no dry place to sleep. Though the American Red Cross is working to supply those in need with shelter by providing tarps, that there won’t be enough for everyone. So, Ruby Sprengle, a native Oregonian, thought of contributing in her own little way.

Last summer Sprengle learned how to create plastic tarp shelters for homeless people to help keep warm in the winter, and now she feels is the time to put her talent into action. She will be providing some tarps for the homeless. The tarp were created by collecting plastic bags, layering them and fusing them together. She has planned several events during finals and over spring break for people to contribute to tarp making and has also set up stations in Eugene to collect plastic bags. Visiting the grocery stores and work with campus recycling to gather as many bags as possible is also on the list.

As of now, Sprengle only has the one tarp she made this summer, but plans to come up with many other taking help from volunteers. She plans to gather volunteers to continue making tarps in mass quantities. From Target logos, Safeway symbols and colored plastic bags, Sprengle plans to make the tarps as aesthetically pleasing as possible. It is truly inspiring to see people take initiatives to help those in need.

Source: http://www.greendiary.com/entry/native-oregonian-create-tarps-for-the-homeless-in-haiti/

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