DAYTON — On Saturday, WHIO-TV’s 7 Circle of Kindness was at the annual “Hope to Dream” event where more than four dozen kids without a bed got a brand new one to sleep in.
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The day started with dozens of volunteers unloading and setting up 50 beds for kids in need. The United Way of Greater Dayton Area helped coordinate all the different people who were there to help.
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“It shows how our community comes together to support kids who need beds,” Tom Kelley, United Way of Greater Dayton Area president and CEO, said. “You know, kids are often in situations that they can’t help, and they’re sleeping on a pile of clothes in the corner. Maybe it’s just a blanket on the floor. It might be a chair. This is an opportunity to have their own bed, their own space of comfort.”
Each bed came with everything they’d need for a warm, safe night’s rest.
Secret Smiles of Dayton spent the last 20-plus years helping kids get a nice warm bed. They said the needs keep growing.
“On average, we were doing in the years past, 500 beds a year. Now we’re doing 800, 900, 1,000 beds a year,” Tracey Janess, president of Secret Smiles of Dayton, said. “The need is that great. There are a lot of families that are trying, but beds are expensive, bedding, and so our wonderful collaboration with Morris Furniture Company allows us to provide beds. We purchase them at Morris’ cost, and then they provide free shipping, and delivery and setup.”
Each of the 50 kids got to find the bed with their name on it, made just for them.
One child told News Center 7 that they were “really, really, really happy.”
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