01-04-2025
Donation of 500 bed frames kicks off Abilene's Community Bed Initiative
ABILENE, Texas () – What started as a donation to Global Samaritan has evolved into a new initiative, providing hundreds of Abilene residents with everything they need for a restful night's sleep, setting them up for future success.
According to Global Samaritan Executive Director Andrew Kelly, having a good night's sleep sets us up for success the next day.
'When we talk about insecurities, most people don't really think about the need for bed. We talk about food insecurity; people need food. They need three meals a day, that kind of thing. People just don't think about how important sleep is,' Kelly shared.
Getting enough sleep helps students improve their academic performance and allows individuals to have a productive day at work. However, Kelly points out that those experiencing financial and personal challenges often struggle to access the funds necessary to purchase a bed.
'Global Samaritan has worked hard to invest in our community. We partner with a lot of nonprofits here in town and try to help meet their needs as they reach out directly to the clients that they serve. One of the things that we've received over the last several years is a lot of calls for beds, and that's something that we haven't typically been able to fill,' explained Kelly.
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Earlier this year, Global Samaritan Resources received a donation of 500 bed frames from Abilene Christian University (ACU), which had surplus furniture after dorm renovations. This donation initiated the 'Community Bed Initiative.'
Global Samaritan is partnering with the Community Foundation of Abilene to gather mattresses that match the bed frames. They aim to connect with non-profits that will benefit from mattress and bed frame donations.
'When we received a call from ACU offering us these beds, we decided to begin partnering and networking with the Community Foundation. Working with other nonprofits to help them meet those needs without it cutting into their budgets. From the frame, the mattress, sheets, pillows, all of it,' Kelly shared.
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After researching and calling various non-profits in the Abilene area, Kelly discovered that last year, roughly more than 350 beds were distributed to people through various organizations. Although they have acquired many mattresses for the bed frames, they still need about 200 more mattresses. However, they are glad to have met the needs that arose in 2024 and hope to go beyond.
'So far, we've been able to pull about 350 beds from Abilene Christian University. They've been amazing in this process. We've had volunteer organizations, student groups from ACU, and several men's groups from around town help us. It's a lot of work, but we've pulled about 350 beds, and there's still more to keep pulling. There are other options, and we hope to be able to maybe reach out to other places and see where we can get more beds because this is an ongoing need in our community,' explained Kelly.
Michelle Parrish, the grant director of the Community Foundation of Abilene, stated that these mattresses and bed frames will be donated to various nonprofit organizations that support children, survivors of domestic violence, Veterans, and individuals who were previously unhoused. She expressed pride in being part of a program that is making a positive impact on the lives of Abilene residents.
'Global Samaritan has been willing to take on the project to raise funds to purchase the mattresses so that when someone is in need, they don't just get a frame, they get a complete bedding set. So, they can start setting up their home, start creating stability for themselves, and set up a house,' added Parrish.
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Parrish works daily with non-profits and understands the need for beds in the Abilene community.
'Beds are difficult to come by, they're costly and they're difficult to gather all of the pieces that you need getting into a new apartment. Perhaps you're leaving our local domestic violence shelter, Noah Project, and you're setting up your own home. You may not have the money to purchase all of the furniture that's going to be required to fill your new space. So, I'm just so excited that there are many nonprofits that will benefit from Global's coordination of this program,' shared Parrish.
Global Samaritan is currently seeking monetary donations to purchase additional mattresses and bed sheets. Visit the website or check out its for more information.
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