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Let’s paint a picture of my friend, Gabi:
It’s the end of a long day. Gabi got up, fed her family, put her best self together, helped her son and daughter get to the school bus, went to a full day of work, returned home and prepared dinner, spent time with her kids, and now it’s finally time to lay down and relax. Gabi can hardly wait to take the weight off her feet, enjoy a book or tv show, and turn off her mind.
But wait.
She remembered that she doesn’t have a bed to lie down on.
The air mattress she has been sharing with her kids has a hole in it and the patch she has been using is not holding. The pillow she picked up from the thrift store is getting quite worn. She doesn’t have enough blankets to keep her whole family warm in the cold of the night.
Gabi has given the day her best, but she resorts to sleeping on the carpet surrounded by four empty walls. Gabi’s feet are throbbing, her back is stiff, and her body longs for any cushion to melt into, but she realizes what hurts most of all is her heart. Gabi’s heart sinks when she watches her children lay down next to her on the floor, covered in one thin blanket to keep them warm. As Gabi and her children toss and turn throughout the night, she can hardly wait for the sun to come up so she doesn’t have to lay on the floor for another minute. When the light shines through her windows, she does it all over again.
Gabi looks forward to the night when she doesn’t have to retreat to the floor again.
Gabi’s story is unfortunately the reality for thousands in our community today. It could be a co-worker, a student, an acquaintance, or one of your child’s friends who would love nothing more than to sleep in their own bed at night. Down Home changes this reality by providing new beds to families in our community emerging from homelessness.
During the month of May, we challenge our community to take the #DHSleepChallenge and try to sleep one night on the floor, to empathize with people like Gabi, who don’t have a comfortable bed to sleep on.
Read some reflections of Down Home Impact Maker’s who took the Good Night Sleep Challenge and how it affected them and their families.
Mackenzie Brimm:
This year marked our second participation in the #DHSleepChallenge. Last year, my husband Dustin and I took on the challenge, and this time, we were joined by our oldest son, Colin. We began the evening by reflecting on the many things we are grateful for. During this introspective time, I initiated a conversation with Colin about how a family can have stable housing, employment, and food, yet still struggle to afford basic household items like furniture or a mattress. It was heartwarming to witness Colin's genuine empathy for those who face such challenges.
I admit that by midnight, the hardness of the floor became too much for me, and I retreated to the couch, eventually returning to my own bed by 2 AM, leaving Dustin and Colin to soldier on without me.
The following day, we were all noticeably more irritable and uncomfortable, a minor inconvenience compared to the ongoing hardship faced by many in our community. The experience significantly deepened my appreciation for the simple comfort of my bed, something I had often taken for granted. Participating in the #DHSleepChallenge was a sobering reminder and an opportunity to raise awareness and demonstrate solidarity with the countless men, women, and children in our community who face this stark reality every night.
Josh Jaster:
I took the Good Night Sleep Challenge on May 15. I had it in my calendar to do it May 1, but I kept putting it off, because there is never a convenient night to sleep on the floor and wake up tired and stiff. When I laid down for the sleep challenge, it was difficult. I had a very busy, stressful day, and I was exhausted. All I wanted to do was to lay down in my bed with my favorite comforter, pillow and fan. Instead, I laid on the hard floor. Fortunately, I was so tired that I was able to fall asleep and stay asleep. I woke up at 6:30, and at first, I felt better than I thought I would. I wasn't quite as stiff as I thought and felt fairly rested. However, around the noon hour, I hit a wall. I was exhausted, and it made my afternoon difficult. I pride myself on being upbeat and positive, and quite frankly, I was crabby that afternoon. I can't imagine the toll that would take on my family and work if I had to do it every night. I have a renewed gratitude for the simple blessing of a comfortable bed.
Kathy Schommer:
We so often take for granted the simplest things in life, and a soft place to land at night is definitely one of those things. As my children and I laid on the floor, talking about how this is reality for many families in our community, they were taken back by how important something as simple as a bed can be. We said a prayer for all those families trying to find comfort as they rested, and another prayer for Down Home for all the wonderful work they do to help families find dignity in having a safe, comfortable place to call home. The GNSC is such a great reminder to thank God for every gift, big and small, for it all makes an impact in our life.
We all know there is nothing more comforting than crawling into the warmth of your own bed each night. As you and your families lay down to take the Good Night Sleep Challenge, think and pray for those this is a reality for.
Ashley Simmons:
I took the DH Sleep Challenge with my youngest daughter. It seemed a little fun for her at the beginning laying down on her floor with a blanket and pillow. Then I asked her after a long while, what does it feel like? She shared it felt like the pioneer days. It was hard, and uncomfortable. She soon told me her neck started to hurt, and she was cold. I asked, what would it be like if we had to sleep on the floor every night and then wake up and go to school? She simply shared with me, it would hurt. I then asked her, what is like sleeping on your bed? She said used words like comfortable, warm and it has her stuffies in it. Even at six years old, it’s easy to identify the benefits of a bed each night. This is a great reminder of how blessed we are, and how much a little donation can do for others!
We invite you to take the #DHSleepChallenge and share your experience of trying to sleep one night on the floor. Make an even further impact by donating towards the purchase of necessary sleep items.
A gift of $51 will purchase 3 sets of sheets.
A gift of $66 will purchase 3 mattress pads.
A gift of $114 will purchase 6 pillows.
A gift of $267 will purchase 3 bedframes.
A gift of $550 will purchase 2 twin mattresses.
Let’s make this reality possible for our community!
*Gabi is a fictional name representing many of the single mother’s stories served by Down Home.
