Ending the Summer with a Big Goal!
August 13, 2020
Dear Friends,
Reflecting on the events of the first half of this year, I can’t help but be grateful for all of your support for the Beds for Kids Program. Throughout this unprecedented, and often difficult time, we have continued to serve families through contactless deliveries, all thanks to the generosity of our new and long-time supporters.
It is often said that a crisis helps to sharpen our focus, and 2020 has certainly done this! Now, more than ever the Beds for Kids program remains focused on our goal to end child bedlessness in our community and in doing so, playing our part in helping to redress the imbalance of health inequity that is disproportionately found in low income communities. At times like this it’s often those with the least, who are affected the most.
As you know, there is I write to you at a time when we anticipate our services to be in great demand for the Beds for Kids program. In 2019 we delivered 1,524 beds to 779 homes; 302 more children than we have ever served in a year! But we cannot do this without your help, together we can respond to the requests we receive each day and ensure no child has to go to sleep on the floor.
For the families we serve, a global health crisis is just one more hurdle to overcome. COVID-19 has only served to further highlight the inequalities that were already there, making our work more critical than ever. Every day we hear stories about parents like Ashley, a mother of two, who had been saving up to afford a home for her family, but has been unable to work during the pandemic, and is struggling to make ends meet.. Now living in a one bedroom apartment, Ashley has an 8 year old daughter, Jasmine, and a 3 year old son, Jayden. Jayden has recently been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. As Ashley was trying to navigate this new chapter of parenthood, she and Jayden were spending their nights sleeping on a couch. Thanks to generous supporters like you, we were able to provide Jayden and Jasmine with beds, s bedding, and their first good night’s sleep in a long timed more!
Each day we hear stories like Ashley’s, and thanks to YOUR generous support, we are able to provide items that many take for granted. Today, we embark on our campaign to sustain the Beds for Kids program. Our goal is to be able to continue to provide beds for more families in need by raising $10,000 by August 31, but we can’t do it without your help.
Please consider donating today, and today and help children in our community area who do not know what it’s like to have a bed of their own.
Just $32 covers the cost of a bedding bag which includes sheets, blankets, a pillow, books, toothbrush, stuffed animal, and sleep education materials.
$200 provides all of those things plus a brand-new twin bed frame and memory foam mattress for one child in need.
Will you please consider making a donation and changing a child’s life forever? Please join us by making your gift at ohaat.org/donate-funds today. If you would prefer to give a smaller, more frequent donation please check the monthly gift option on the PayPal window.
THANK YOU! I hope we can continue to count on your exceptional support. We cannot continue this mission without your help!
Yours sincerely,
Kate Fay
Executive Director
One House at a Time (OHAAT)
United Way #14144
P.S. Don’t forget you can increase the impact of your gift and ask your employer if they offer a gift matching option!