St. Hubert Green Bag Team
(a fully connected chapter of Green Bag Lady)
Every month, a small sewing circle gathers in Read Hall at St. Hubert Church to make fabric shopping bags. The fabric is donated. The labor is donated. The bags are given out at Farmers’ Markets, street fairs, and other gatherings. Inspired by Pope Francis’s encouragement for us to care for our common home, Earth, this effort has become lovingly known as the Green Bag Team.
Bell Moore, Barbara Colby, and Mary Beth Clark cut, sewed, ironed, and labeled bags in June, using fabric donated through a co-worker of Barbara’s husband. When the former quilter, who had hung up her frame, learned of the Green Bag Lady project, she gave all the remaining fabric—enough for some 600 bags. Recycling and reusing leads to reducing.
Bell Moore initiated the St. Hubert Green Bag team after learning of the international effort started by Theresa VanHatten-Grathan in Nashville, TN. Barbara Colby had lived in Nashville and connected with Theresa who began this eco-friendly art project. Colorful, fun fabric shopping bags are both useful and conversation starters. We throw away fewer bags, reduce trash piles, and Voilá – we’re caring for our earthly home better.
After Barbara moved to Edmonds, she learned of Bell’s interest in the Green Bag Lady’s work. They connected and the St. Hubert Team came into being in January 2016. The team’s commitment is to make at least 10/month. They make at least that many and have the fun of giving away, surprising people at public gatherings with the thoughtful gesture. When asked why she does it, Bell answers that ‘Pope Francis inspired her.’
Great, gentle evangelization effort!
Bell speaks of this work as ‘Saving the world, one bag at a time.’ Each bag is numbered and has the website of the Green Bag Lady in its label. Worldwide, more than 41,500 have been made and distributed.
There’s plenty of room to be part of the team. There’s a lot of laughter woven into and around the making of bags and a lot of joy in the giving them away. For more information, come check out the team in action. They generally meet on Wednesdays and it’s really a party.
To learn more about the background, www.greenbaglady.org.