2020 ANNUAL REPORT • SVDPCINCINNATI.ORG • 21
Providing the Comfort of a Bed
Feeling the Warmth
Due to various effects of the pandemic, more neighbors than ever are struggling and significant expenses, like that of a bed, are unaffordable. There are a startling number of Cincinnati neighbors – especially children – who do not have a bed of their own to sleep in.
an energetic, live event at the Cincinnati Reds Urban Youth Academy, as children are surprised with a bed of their own. This year, children were surprised as they opened the doors of their homes and found volunteers had delivered new beds directly to them!
St. Vincent de Paul’s Bob & Sylvia Rahe Bed Program serves families who have suffered a range of traumatic experiences, ranging from bed bug infestations to homelessness to unemployment. This year, 802 families received a mattress, box spring and bed frame. Fifty of these beds were delivered directly to children through Day to Dream, a partnership with Morris Furniture and WCPO 9. This initiative typically occurs through
With the shutdown of Thrift Stores and significant supply chain issues early in the pandemic, this form of assistance was halted temporarily and has continued to be impacted. Therefore, St. Vincent de Paul plans to double the number of beds it will distribute to neighbors in the year ahead in order to meet the increased need for comfort, warmth and health.
For the last 18 winters, St. Vincent de Paul has helped keep neighbors warm by collecting and distributing new and gently used winter coats. In partnership with WLWT, Gold Star Chili, WARM 98.5 and Lemasters Consulting, St. Vincent de Paul began gathering new and gently used coats in the fall. Fifty corporate and civic groups, along with 20 St. Vincent de Paul Conferences, hosted drives on site and helped collect thousands of coats. This year, in lieu of large distributions, neighbors received a voucher for a free coat of their choosing, to redeem at any St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store. So far this winter, 1,514 neighbors have received a new jacket and felt the warmth that comes with it.