Sleep Country USA Celebrates Success Of Shoe Drive For Foster Kids

Furniture World Magazine

Sleep Country USA, the Northwest’s largest seller of premium mattresses, announced the overwhelming success of its first ever Sleep Country Foster Kids new shoe drive. Citing significant support from the community and area businesses such as Oregon-based Ringor, a baseball and softball footwear, apparel and accessory retailer, Sleep Country USA collected more than 1,900 pairs of new shoes for area foster kids – surpassing its initial goal of 1,000. “The Sleep Country Foster Kids shoe drive provided us with an excellent opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children right here in Oregon,” said Kirk Ihlenburg, president, Ringor. “The fact that Sleep Country exceeded their goal by 53% shows that there are many people in our community that understand how important it is to start children off on the right foot. The people at Ringor feel privileged to be part of this community.” Sleep Country USA added the new shoe drive to its annual Sleep Country Foster Kids giving initiative in an effort to respond to considerable need from foster families to replace non-existent shoes, shoes that have been outgrown, or shoes that have been simply worn out. According to foster care providers, new shoes are one of the most expensive items for families to purchase and almost always unavailable for selection at the foster care centers. As a result, new shoes, particularly tennis shoes, are one of the most asked for items by foster families. The success of this drive means that nearly 2,000 foster children will now get to have new shoes. “Whether for sports or school, comfortable shoes are an absolute necessity for everyone, especially growing children,” said Terry Horsley, executive vice president of marketing and merchandising, Sleep Country USA. “The response from area individuals and local businesses to our first shoe drive was tremendous. Thanks to this support, we can proudly give our 17 foster care partner organizations a much-needed material item these children need to thrive. We are especially thankful for Ringor’s donation of 150 pairs of new athletic shoes, and hope this opens the door for other area businesses to participate in our upcoming foster kids drives.” On the heels of the Sleep Country Foster Kids shoe drive, the company will kick off its second annual volunteer drive on March 13, 2006. This drive will help Washington foster care partner organizations to engage its communities in helping the cause through a variety of volunteer activities. These include working at material goods stores, tutoring, mentoring, event assistance, community outreach and office support. Individuals interested in learning more about how to volunteer should visit the nearest Sleep Country USA before April 2, 2006, for information and to sign up. Following the volunteer drive, Sleep Country USA will initiate the Sleep Country Foster Kids new clothes drive, which will begin April 10, 2006, and run through May 21, 2006. About Sleep Country USA: Sleep Country USA is the No. 1 mattress seller in the Northwestern United States, with more than 50 retail stores throughout Washington and Oregon. The company was founded in 1991 and features top-quality brand-name mattresses and premium adjustable beds, futons, and wood and metal accent beds. An industry visionary, Sleep Country USA strives to help every customer “choose well to live well.” The company is active in its communities, hosting ongoing events that benefit the areas more than 23,000 foster children. For more information about Sleep Country USA or Sleep Country Foster Kids, please visit www.sleepcountry.com.