Pen Huston is a name many of you possibly won’t recognise but for many, her organisation, Crisp Packet Project, has been literally a life saver.
Her amazing journey started in November 2019 and whilst working for a local charity, Surviving the Streets UK, she was frustrated that they were always running out of sleeping and bivvy bags for people sleeping in the streets and felt she had to find a way she could help.
Then in the middle of the night she had a light bulb moment. She awoke with a clear vision of her lying in a green crisp packet. The next day she got to work and, using the surplus food bags the charity collected each evening from the local supermarkets, together with crisp packets (which had to be washed first), she started fusing the pair together with her iron and, hey presto, the first bivvy bag was born.
Facebook was the next port of call and she put out a shout on her Facebook page, The Art Shack, based in Hastings, asking for donations of crisp packets. Caroline Jane Miller rang a few days later to say she needed to meet Pen as soon as possible as she had some exciting news to talk about.
She had started a Facebook page called Crisp Packet Project, asking for crisp packets for Pen at The Art Shack. Such was the response that within a few days her page had crashed with no less than 3,000 followers! Caroline was so apologetic but agreed to let Pen take on Crisp Packet Project and now it has well over 15,000 Facebook followers and has affiliated CPP (Crisp Packet Projects) throughout the UK and worldwide.
CPP is now known internationally via social media including Instagram and Twitter with regular workshops and UK tours and coverage on local and national radio and TV stations. Now charities, schools and numerous organisations are involved in collecting, processing and fashioning unwanted crisp packets and giving life to one use plastics and at the same time, helping to save lives in the process.
When sleeping rough, life must be very difficult and with few or no possessions any help or comfort is welcomed. The CPP message is simple. “When you have nothing this is something. People helping people, that’s what life is all about 💚.”
As well as making sleeping bags and bivvy bags for the homeless on our streets, CPP also produce survival kit packs, all available in a sack bag made out of discarded crisp packets. The kit includes a CPP mat or pillow, CPP survival sheet, CPP poncho, CPP wash bag, bamboo toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, flannel, winter hat and gloves, socks and two hand warmers. All vital equipment if you are to survive life on the streets sleeping rough.
Do you want to get involved? It’s so easy: the vital ingredient is crisp packets. Once collected, wash them in warm soapy water, allow them to dry fully and when dry, send them or take them: Crisp Packet Project, CIC HQ, St Pauls Road, St Leonards, Hastings, East Sussex, TN37 6RS. You can also contact them direct on 07932 745484 or by email on crisppacketproject@gmail.com
Bringing people together.
Get making these life saving items for your community and to help you get inspired you can learn so much more about CPP and see it’s founder, Pen Huston by logging onto the following you tube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=2bfhwRwghVA
Image Credits: Crisp Packet Project .