After many months of volunteering and working with Beds for Kids, I finally was able to make a trip with Brandon & Dennis to go serve some of our clients yesterday. It was such an emotional and profound afternoon for me. I met a couple that greeted us on a stairwell with excitement and smiles. We began to start unloading the truck and bringing the items up the stairwell, when I entered their home, I noticed that their house was empty. As the unpacking and moving went forward, through conversations with the couple, I learned they had 5 daughters between the ages of 3 & 7. We talked about the children and their personalities and I learned rather quickly that the little 3 year old had the run of the house. We were able to share a few laughs, a few pictures and a few moments of personal insight into their lives. As we put the children’s beds together and re-arranged furniture within the house, the parents were so grateful and filled with such joy, laughter and pride for their children. At that moment, I didn’t feel like we were serving clients in need, I felt we were helping close friends & family.

I walked away from there realizing that we are helping furnish futures by providing furniture to those in need, but that these families are helping furnish futures as well by showing us love, support and hope when times are difficult. The children started with a house full of love, we provided a house full of furniture and now God will provide a future full of optimism. To me, Beds for Kids isn’t just furnishing futures to those in need of furniture items, but to all of us no matter which side of the spectrum we fall into.

-Amanda Ross

If you missed out, there is another opportunity to serve with LOVE week here at Beds for Kids this Saturday, February 18th 2012 from 9am to 12pm. Don’t forget to sign up..we look forward to seeing you at the warehouse.

To all the LOVE week volunteers, we honestly can’t say THANK YOU enough for all you did to help the children and families in need in Charlotte!!

It is hard to believe that it has already been a year! The last 12 months have provided many new and life changing moments. As I write this I am looking out in to a warehouse filled with furniture that will change lives in the next few weeks. We have been blessed to have hundreds of volunteers and donors supply us with the necessary items to fill 103 homes with hope and a brighter future. There have been many unforgettable days that have changed the way we view our calling.

Below are the top 10 milestones of 2011:

1. Forming the partnership with Ashley Furniture HomeStores in the Charlotte area.

2. Receiving a donation from a 7 year old girl after she raised $178 dollars from her hot chocolate stand for Beds for Kids.

3. Moving into an 11,000 square foot warehouse donated free of cost.

4. Having 50 volunteers from Charlotte ONE come serve in the warehouse one Saturday.

5. Receiving the donation from Davidson college of 24+ apartments of furniture.

6. The donation of a 18ft box truck.

7. Receiving a $25,000 matching gift.

8. Having someone who received a bed from us come and serve to help other families.

9. Seeing the TV commercial for the 1st time on ABC.

10. Being able to give out over 268 beds to children and their families.

We honestly can’t thank LGA enough for selecting Beds for Kids. We are so excited to begin this creative working relationship with such an amazing company.

Please visit http://lgaadv.com/ to read the official press release from LGA and to view the other lucky non-profits who were selected as well.

Great things to come from this……

Stay tuned to WSOC TV Channel 9 News, our friends at Ashley Furniture have graciously sponsored a PSA announcement for our organization!

When you are in an Ashley Furniture Homestore, look for our banners…a portion of every mattress sale benefits Beds for Kids!

We also have the support from Carolina Panthers Running Back, DeAngelo Williams:

A big THANK YOU to Ashley Furniture Homestore for all they have done for us and continue to do for our organization!

- We’ve moved all our inventory into our new warehouse at the corner of S. Tryon and Remount Road

- We’ve purchased and begun using our new 16-ft box truck to increase our pick-up and delivery capabilities each week

- We’ve had over 30 volunteers give an average of 3.5 hours in the past 3 weeks to help do a number of warehouse, pick-up and delivery tasks

- We’ve had some amazing publicity conversations with some big voices in Charlotte to help get the word out on the BFK cause

The list goes on and here are some pictures as proof of some of the service happening, click on the photos to enlarge them:

We’d like to give particularly share our gratitude with these BFK friends who have made it all possible in the past couple weeks: Kendrick T., Greg L., Kamilah P., Steve & Wanda L., Donny E., Brooks F., Maddie P., Bryce B., Brett B., Quinn H., Trevor & Nick, Becky O., Mr & Mrs. Fogarty, Tim S., Pastor Rivens and Blue, Byron R., Tom & Nancy H., Laura L., The King Family and their newest addition, Sheilah M., Claire T., Aaron P., and so many more. Because of you all Beds For Kids has hands and feet to serve Charlotte with excellence and efficiency in a way that will bring lasting transformation to the whole community. THANK YOU from Daniel, Amanda & Brandon!

Friday, July 22nd Daniel and Brandon need some strong backs to come up to Davidson College and help load over 75 large furniture pieces in to the Beds for Kids‘ trucks.  Please email Brandon if you’re interested at bholmes@bedsforkids.org for more details!

Saturday, July 23rd Beds for Kids will need people of all ages and talents to come and help up-fit the new warehouse on South Tryon Street! Those interested in helping with yard work, painting, organizing, moving furniture and more please email Brandon at bholmes@bedsforkids.org for more details.

Beds for Kids is moving to new heights but its not possible without the help of the community.  Its our desire at BFK to do all things with excellence and to get all of Charlotte involved and this is the perfect way to begin our service to all.  Those looking to move some heavy furniture for half a day give us your hands on Friday. And those who are available on Saturday we need all hands on deck at our warehouse!

It is our service to our neighbors that will bring Charlotte to the new heights we hope for.

It is the participation of organizations and individuals like these that make our service to those in need possible and we can’t say thank you enough!

Lexi, age 12

Experiencing the Bed For Kids organization has been a once in a life time experience for me.  It was very touching to my heart realizing how much we take for granted each and every day and how much hope the beds for kids charity is bringing into many  families throughout Charlotte and the world. The look and the expression on their face when we brought in the beds is not even explainable.  It was like we had just changed their life forever.  To us a bed is nothing but to them a bed is a place to call home. When we gave them some toys and books they acted like they were miracles having something to do and something to read.  It is like they had just been encouraged to keep on dreaming.  These families are so thankful and show such gratitude towards you because you are helping them believe.  I encourage you to experience this feeling and help make a difference for kids and families around the world.

Kara, age 14

This past Saturday I got the amazing experience of helping the Beds For Kid’s, Charlotte Furniture Bank organization deliver furniture to 3 families.  Just to see the look on the families face when we brought in the furniture was absolutely priceless. My family and I brought along some extra toys and books to give to the children. There was one little boy that I specifically remember.  When we brought in the books his eyes grew really big.   He could have cared less about the cookies and toys we brought, he was young and all he wanted was for someone to read to him. The first thing he said to his mom was “read me a story.” The experience made me realize how much we take for granted. I had no idea that something as simple as a book or some toys could make such an impact. I think that this is something that everyone should experience young or old, it is truly eye opening and feels great to give to those in need. This is an experience that I will truly never forget; this organization is doing great things to help our city and I definitely look forward to volunteering many more times. I recommend getting involved with this awesome organization; it’s a great experience for any age! Thank you Beds for Kid’s for this unforgettable experience!!!

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery and Roots graciously came and supplied food and drink for the event where Ballantyne neighbors and cigar enthusiasts joined in for some awesome fun.  It was a privilege to share the mission of Beds For Kids with all the attendees and gain new supporters in our cause for Charlotte.  Profits made help us to purchase necessary supplies to better serve the outstanding bed and furniture needs of children and families in Charlotte.

The best part is there will be a similar event but much larger on October 1! Outland Cigars will again be hosting “Lite Up Charlotte”; a cigar festival that will include food vendors, live music, and tons of fun with Beds For Kids as the beneficiary!  We expect a lot of people to attend so be prepared to buy your tickets in the coming months at one of Outland Cigar’s stores or online!

A huge thanks to all who came out and helped serve last night at “Gars & Growlers Summerfest” despite the hot heat!  Keep posted on other Beds For Kids events going on in the near future.