More than 50 kids across the Lake of the Ozarks region settled into a cozy mattress on Christmas Eve, thanks to the annual Homes For The Holidays Mattress Giveaway by Slumberland Furniture and Scott's Concrete.
Slumberland Furniture is locally owned by Jill and Randy Ray and opened in 2008. They began the mattress donation event that same year and have been able to increase the donations annually.
"In many households across our community, children are sleeping on floors or sofas, and sometimes even sharing those small spaces with siblings," Jill Ray said. "Slumberland understands the importance a mattress can have on a good night's sleep, and [our] goal is to get children sleeping comfortably, in a mattress and off the floor."
Starting in 2014, and every year since, Scottie Martin with Scott’s Concrete joined Slumberland Furniture in their efforts to help families and children get new mattresses. Scottie and Jill have aired on various radio stations and relied on the community for referrals and phone numbers for families where children were sleeping on the floor or sofas. They simply called the families, set the date and delivered a mattress set, frame and sheets to each family.
By joining forces with Scott's Concrete, Ray says Slumberland has been able to dramatically increase the number of mattresses donated and delivered in the Lake community. This year, Slumberland "elves" delivered almost 60 mattress sets to families and children in the Lake area, in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
"Watching the excited looks on the faces of children as they get their own beds and knowing how well they will sleep is what makes us so excited about this program," Ray said. "We have received many cards, pictures and videos from the kids and families."
