Rested and Ready

For many children, moving into a bed of their own is a mark of maturity. After years of sleeping in a crib or sharing a room with parents or siblings, having a space to get quiet alone time and a restful night’s sleep is so important for a child’s development and well-being. Even in a shared room, having one’s own bed is crucial. Sadly, many children, especially those living in poverty, do not have that luxury. United Way of Susquehanna County along with its community partners has the goal of providing a twin bed to include mattress, box spring and frame to school-aged children who need them. In addition, each child will receive a slumber package to include a pillow, blanket, mattress pad, sheets, slippers, pajamas, hygiene items, an age-appropriate book, night light, laundry bag and detergent.

We know that a good night’s sleep is directly linked to a child’s well-being and academic success. Lack of sleep can cause absenteeism, poor grades, short attention spans, aggressive behavior and bullying. Something as simple as providing children with a safe, clean place to rest can have a dramatic overall improvement in a child’s overall health and performance in school.