Sleep Aid

influencer.

SLEEP AID the group providing beds for North Texans in need

THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS A TIME FOR GRATITUDE. We’re grateful for our family, our friends, our home. During a year of quarantine, we’ve been thankful for beautiful days that let us enjoy nature, time for a leisurely cocktail on the patio, the amazing work of our kids’ teachers (can I get an amen?). But have you ever thought to be grateful just to have a bed? For many in DFW, that’s actually a luxury. We spoke to Doug Nickols, founder and director of Bed Start—a nonprofit organization based in Collin County that provides beds for those in need—about just how important it is to have a place to lay your head.

What are the origins of Bed Start? Bed Start began out of a church ministry. I left an overworked corporate leadership job, had a truck and trailer, and found an unmet need in the community. [The first family we served was] a single mom with three children—one terminally

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ill—whose husband abandoned them and the number of households waiting on beds. took all the furnishings in their Allen apart- In years past, Bed Start had sponsors that ment. We located beds for them and received matched $1 for $1, but due to the economy furniture donations. this year, will not.

Tell us how Bed Start works. Through our Do all donations go directly toward beds? ministry, we directly serve the community; we All monetary donations go 100% toward the share gently used beds and furnishings, and purchase of beds and bedding. Bed Start is a provide to households in need coming out of 100% volunteer group with no overhead cost, crisis. Households within Collin County and rent or property costs and no salaries, so [all elsewhere are referred by other nonprofits, the money] goes directly to the need. churches, schools, government agencies You mentioned that having a bed is good and others that we have a relationship with. for school performance. In what other ways Although we operate 365 days a year, our core does providing a bed for someone help them? time is every Saturday morning. We welcome Having your own bed provides dignity and volunteers and service-minded people to join self-worth. Not only does it provide a good us until noon. night’s sleep to be mentally awake the next

How extensive is the need? We provide day and physically healthy, it nourishes body, furnishing of homes connected through mind and soul. referrals by over 250 agencies. We pick up It’s not just about actually sleeping. Right. A donations in over 1,200 homes and bed is not just an immediate solution but, deliver into over 750 households longer term, it provides a haven in need per year. We provide to call your own—whether in service opportunities for the transitional living homes over 50 faith-based groups, we support and furnish, or service organization an apartment where each chapters, corporate and sibling can have their municipal groups, and own space. those completing court- It must be rewarding mandated service hours. for those who donate. Pre-COVID, Bed Start With many agencies just delivered over 1,700 beds. asking people to contribWe’re on track this year for ute [money] and [donors] 1,500 beds. not knowing exactly what

That’s amazing, given all trickles down to the real need, the constraints of the our donors witness pandemic. How else has a volunteer base COVID impacted you? determined to make It has affected us, both the world a better place good and not so good. straight away. Children Initially, our volunteer base dropped sigGet Involved in donor homes give more unconditionally nificantly but has picked back up. To continue operations with no shutdown, we established ourselves as an essential Want to help Bed Start? Visit bedstart.org to find out how to make a furniture donation, join the volunteer delivery team or contribute financially. [in other ways]; adults giving up their generational possessions know it goes directly to a need rather than sitting business and persevered in a nonprofit resale with strong distancing shop or thrift store; and and health and safety elders know that their measures. downsizing has benefits for the community

We have witnessed a shrinking of resourc- at large. Likewise, when crews show up at a es for the most vulnerable population, causing delivery, the recipient household witnesses the increased problems in domestic violence cases unconditional care and compassion people and homelessness. In the meantime, we’re have for them. It’s not just a delivery truck pushing on with an ever-increasing wait list, with paid staff. with wait times measured in months while How can our readers show that care and people are sleeping on floors or pallets, until a compassion in their own communities? Serve bed and furnishings are provided. unconditionally and love thy neighbor. Meet

What’s your “In Bed by Christmas Eve” citizens other than the ones that look, sound initiative? The cornerstone of Bed Start is to and talk the same [as you]. Engage and don’t provide beds to children sleeping on floors just write a check, fill a collection bin or buy so they would do well the next day in school. a gift card—transferring responsibility to Colder weather also increases the number others. Bring your grandparents and children of doctor visits and financial hardships of and serve the community as a family, create households in need. In Bed by Christmas Eve stories and build a new generation to heal this provides a donation stream to draw down fractured world.