SleepSafe triples impact for homelessness in its second year
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This week, homewares brand Sheridan and homeless charity StreetSmart Australia are celebrating the two-year anniversary of their SleepSafe initiative. The program has almost tripled (+274%) its impact in the second year, raising $410,000 for 27,000 sleep kits.
To date, the program has raised more than half a million dollars, which will help over 37,000 vulnerable Australians who are at risk or experiencing homelessness. Funds are collected through instore and online donations.
The initiative provides a safe night’s sleep for displaced Australians by delivering sleep kits through 296 local homeless charity partners across Australia. The sleep kit includes a sheet set and a towel, produced by Sheridan’s manufacturing partners using excess fabric.
Althea Projects Inc.
“The pandemic highlighted the critical role the community sector plays in supporting the health and wellbeing of our most marginalised and disadvantaged people in society. We are very fortunate and thankful for the amazing material aid support through SleepSafe, providing the high-quality comforts from Sheridan to very vulnerable Australians during a very tough time,” Geoff Hills, Chief Executive Officer, StreetSmart Australia.
Each sleep kit provides the dignity and security of a little piece of home to call their own, to people entering temporary accommodation. This seemingly small gesture makes an incredible difference to people who are turning to homeless shelters and services at an extremely difficult time in their lives. It also provides much needed financial relief to local community organisations.
“From humble beginnings, our SleepSafe initiative has just kept growing – even through a pandemic. You can’t underestimate just how much impact new fresh linens have for someone arriving at a shelter. I couldn’t be prouder of all our team for their fundraising efforts, and of our customers for their incredible generosity.” Paul Gould, Group General Manager, Sheridan.
As SleepSafe progresses into its third year, a goal has been set to reach a target of 60,000 sleep kits.
Lourdes Antenor is an experienced writer who specialises in the not-for-profit sector and its affiliations. She is the content producer for Third Sector News, an online knowledge-based platform for and about the Australian NFP sector.
