Provide beds for 300 kids sleeping on the floor

Dear GlobalGiving supporters of the Beds for Kids campaign,

We have great news! For the last several months, the Warehouse has been fully stocked with twin and double mattresses, and we have completely eliminated our waiting list for children’s beds. This is a complete turnaround from past years where wait lists for twin and double beds were long, and we were sometimes only able to provide one bed for a family with multiple children. August and September have typically been some of our busiest months as case managers work to get families into new homes before the school year starts, so success at this time is particularly significant.

We are thrilled to be seeing the results of our efforts to build a consistent supply for our top requested item. This success has been achieved through expanded donation collection truck routes alongside community outreach about the need for donated beds. Your contributions have been critical in funding these efforts to ensure that all the families with children who access our services are able to receive a bed for each child.

The problem of children in our community who are sleeping on the floor, on couches or with family members is still present, but with your help we are truly having an impact. We wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate this success with you. You’ve helped us to make a huge difference in the lives of so many children and families.

As we come up on the busy holiday season, we need a fresh push to ensure we are able to continue operating without a wait list, getting beds and bedding for all the children in the families who come to the Warehouse. You can help us get families “home for the holidays” by spreading the word to your friends, family and colleagues. The GlobalGiving Bonus Day on October 19^th is a great way to make your gift go even further.

We heard recently from a supporter who provided one of these donated “beds for kids”:

You all do such good work and more folks need to know how to help "the cause" and that the Warehouse is there to help us when we need it.  I feel confident that a bunk bed with mattresses and box springs that we donated a couple years ago went to children needing comfy, safe, restful sleep.

-Ronna

All of this is made possible through your generous support and friendship. Thank you!

p.s. If you're in the Portland, OR metro area, we have numerous fun events coming up this fall and we would love the chance to meet you and say thank you in person. 

Links:

• Community Warehouse Events

I’d like to share a story with you about a child that recently came to Community Warehouse with his family. After helping to select basic items for their new apartment, we heard this young boy say, “Now I don’t feel so poor.” His experience is a powerful example of how the Warehouse is providing so much more than beds: we are truly changing lives. Community Warehouse is able to make a difference for these families because of donors like you and all of our Global Giving Beds for Kids supporters. Thank you!

Since the beginning of 2011 through May 31st, we have collected and distributed 320 twin and double beds with mattress, box spring, sheets, blankets and pillows to families with young children. Some of our busiest months are in late summer and early fall, as our partner agency case managers work to get families into the Warehouse before school starts. We are gearing up for this period by trying to collect as many children’s beds as possible. Last year, we were able to clear the wait list for families requesting a twin and double beds during every month except for August and September. This summer our goal is to ensure that all the children who visit the Warehouse head back to school in the fall with the improved health and self-esteem provided by a bed of his or her own.

We continue to focus on getting the word out about the need for donated beds for families with children. Our annual CHAIR AFFAIR event in April was a huge success and an opportunity for over 400 guests to learn more about our needs including hearing directly from a client who benefited from our services. In May, we launched a new radio campaign to raise awareness and have already seen an increase in people delivering their items to the Warehouse as well as requests for donation pick-up. Thanks to our expanded truck route schedule, we are able to keep wait times under two weeks, although there are still limits on our capacity to collect donations. Our next big step is expanding our Westside location into a larger space for both donation collection and client services. We have identified a great location and are close to finalizing the details!

Can you help us spread the word about Community Warehouse to friends, family and neighbors in the Portland metro area who may be moving, downsizing or remodeling and let them know that a bed for a child is our top requested item from families? We are particularly low right now on twin sheet sets. Our Facebook page is also a great place to direct potential supporters and includes some videos of the Warehouse. Thank you again for all your support.

Links:

• Community Warehouse
• Community Warehouse Facebook Page