Have extra plastic bags? Provide to a good cause

KENT, Ohio (BNN)-- Most of us probably have a cupboard filled with plastic bags from the grocery store, not serving much of a function.

To offer these bags new function, the Special Olympics in Kent is collecting plastics in a community drive led by its professional athletes to create benches for Theodore Roosevelt High School.

" We've done four benches currently, and we're working on our fifth one," said Kent Special Olympics coach Linda Ferlito.

This drive started little two-and-a-half years ago. Now, the whole neighborhood is breaking in.

As soon as 1,000 pounds of plastic bags are gathered, the product is sent to Trex, a building company that utilizes recycled products for decks, railing and other products.

When produced by Trex, the benches are committed to members of the Kent neighborhood with close ties to the high school and Special Olympics neighborhood. The plastic must be similar to a basic grocery bag.

" It needs to be soft plastic," Ferlito stated. "It can not be difficult plastic. Like the containers you get veggies - - those kind of do not work. Birdseed bags and mulch bags, just anything that's soft plastic."

School closings due to internet, phone problems

Ferlito stated it takes 1,000 pounds of plastic to develop one bench from recycled bags. Contributions are being accepted at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Kent throughout regular school hours. Ferlito said they are close to striking their objective, however the more the merrier.

" I think it's a great project for my professional athletes to show that they can do something and make a difference in their community," Ferlito stated. "And then the 2nd part is that all of us want to get our environment to be better. And we understand how the plastic is killing fish and other animals in the ocean. So, we would like to get rid of excessive plastic as we can."