OHAAT's Beds for Kids aims to help children experiencing bedlessness
DARBY, Pa. (CBS) -- Doctors say sleep is an important part of people's health, but not everyone is getting the proper rest. Sometimes, it's because they don't have a bed to sleep on. One nonprofit is trying to help children experiencing bedlessness.
Sixteen-year-old Zykeah Massey will soon welcome her firstborn.
"My old bed had broke because as my pregnancy went on, I got a little too heavy for the bed," Zykeah said, "and springs ended up coming up."
She says she got sticker shock when she looked up the price of a new bed.
"It was like, price ranging from $200 to $300 itself," Zykeah said, "and I was like, 'that is too much money.'"
Her lactation specialist referred her to One House At A Time, a Bucks County nonprofit that runs a program called Beds for Kids. It provides free mattresses, frames, pillows and bedding for children in need.
"A lot of the families that we serve have experienced bedbug infestation and have had to dispose of the beds that they had in the home," Kate Fay, executive director of One House At A Time, said. "The kids have either been sleeping on makeshift beds, on the ground typically with blankets or cushions or whatever they can find."
When Beds for Kids started in 2011, the program was delivering 350 beds a year. Last year was its biggest year yet, with 1,910 beds delivered.
"Research shows that there are about 6,000 children within our community who are sleeping without a bed each night," Fay said. "And so we know that there's still a lot of unmet need out there."
The nonprofit is focused on meeting that need.
As for Zykeah, her new bed was delivered earlier this month. She says it's a game changer.
"Honestly," Zykeah said, "I like this bed better than any other bed I've ever had."
For Zykeah and many others, it's a blessing and a good night's rest.
