Can you imagine going to sleep every night…. without a bed to sleep in? Many area children don’t have their own bed and have to sleep on the floor or furniture. The lack of restful sleep can have a huge negative impact on a child’s development and overall well-being.
The ACRP’s Beds for Kids project addresses this problem by providing a free custom-made twin bed, mattress, pillow, blankets and sheets to eligible kids in Cambria, Somerset, and Bedford Counties. Families must have been residents for a year and meet a certain income level to qualify. 1889 Foundation has supported this worthwhile project with a $6,500 grant.
Studies have shown that kids who get adequate sleep have improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, and better overall mental and physical health.
Jim Buday of the ACRP says the project has delivered 87 beds to kids who need them, and that there are currently about 50 on the waiting list. Referrals come from social workers, health care professionals, and other service agencies – anyone who comes into contact with families in need and notices that a child doesn’t have a bed.
The project has a dual purpose, too. The beds are made from scratch by clients referred by the Cambria County Juvenile Court who are required to provide a service to the community. Thus, the program not only provides needed beds and bedding for children in need, it provides young people with an opportunity to complete meaningful community service.
“We teach the young people woodworking skills – they cut, assemble, sand, and paint each bed,” says Jim Buday, who is also an instructor. “1889 Foundation is a wonderful supporter of this project, and we are grateful.”
