As we approach the holidays, we at Friends In Deed are gearing up for our annual Bed & Crib Drive. The Drive allows our supporters to give monetary donations for the purchase of new beds and cribs. Since the bed drive’s inception, we have helped over 1400 individuals and children get up off the floor, get into a bed or crib, and get a good night sleep.
Like he did in 2014, Ken Fil of Van Winkle Mattress Co. has upped the ante; he has agreed to donate one bed for every five beds donated on Giving Tuesday (December 1st, 2015)!
Last year this resulted in an additional 10 beds donated to the drive as 50 were donated on Giving Tuesday. We hope to beat that record in 2015, so please check out how bed donations make a difference by reading Latara’s story below and then head over to our bed donation page to bookmark it for Giving Tuesday.
Meet Latara and Family
Latara faced a series of crises, which led to her five children being taken into foster care and her taking shelter at the Delonis Center. She got help and was able to obtain employment and move into a home, but she didn’t have any furniture at all. She was referred to Friends in Deed and was able to come and pick up a couch, four twin beds for the children, and an IKEA bed for herself. At that point, Latara says “I was working but not getting any assistance, so getting the furniture took a big burden off of me.”
The beds were particularly important because she was required to have beds in order for her children to visit her from foster care. After she received the beds, the State came to do a home study, she was approved for home visits and is now reunited with her children.
Latara says she was impressed at the way that Friends in Deed called her as the furniture she needed became available. Each time she came in, she said the people were really nice and that the furniture was really great. It was really helpful to her, because “even used furniture can be expensive.” She says, “Friends In Deed helped me in ways I couldn’t even imagine.”
Latara Interview and Article by Mary O’Brien