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Collaborative project gets beds to kids who don’t have one

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Prairie du Chien High School tech ed students are involved with the hands-on portion of building beds for area children who do not have one. Pictured (from left) with one of their first creations are Jonah Linder, Brice Martin, teacher Ron Kucko, Charles Eastman and Jack Amundson. (Photo by Correne Martin)

Some of the tech ed students and teacher Ron Kucko add a final board to one of the frames to ensure the mattress doesn't slide around.

By Correne Martin

 

The simple things in life are often taken for granted. 

For instance, have you ever lived without sleeping in a bed every night? Think back to your childhood; have you always had a soft mattress, sturdy frame and cozy covers to snuggle into when sleeping?

There are poor and low-income families everywhere who lack basic furniture in their homes. Those families exist in Crawford County, and they include children who sleep on the floor, on a thin blanket or pad, or maybe a small couch.

The George Family Foundation, Prairie du Chien High School and Couleecap have  started a project to get brand new beds to area children who do not have them.

One of the philanthropic organization’s family members saw a television news story about children sleeping on the floor because their families couldn’t afford adequate furniture. The story showed technical education students getting involved by crafting bed frames. Figuring there was a need locally, the foundation set out to “put kids in beds,” according to Cindy Standorf and Roy George, two of the five siblings who make up the GFF Board of Directors. 

They contacted Jann Sturmer, program coordinator at Couleecap Bargain Boutique and Food Pantry, in Prairie du Chien, and learned of some individuals in need. Then, they reached out to Ron Kucko, the tech ed teacher at Prairie du Chien High School, and he willingly agreed to assign some of his students to the task. 

“We drew the design on AutoCAD (a design and drafting computer software application),” Kucko said. “We made them modular so they’re easy to pull apart and move if needed.”

With financing from the foundation, the class purchased the necessary lumber from two local lumber yards, Design Homes and Spahn & Rose. In just a couple class periods, four students and their teacher built, finished and assembled three, solid wood, twin extra long beds—including a headboard, frame and mattress support for each.

“We’ve done some community service projects in the past. It just gives the kids a chance to apply their skills in the real world,” Kucko said. 

After the foundation bought mattresses, mattress pads, sheets, comforters and pillows, the first bed was delivered last week in Prairie du Chien.

The child receiving it was surprised with the new bed. The mom, who asked not to be named, said she and the child were happy and grateful for the donation. 

They recently left a domestic abuse situation, and essentially started over, on a fixed income, with nothing in their possession. Through Couleecap assistance, they were able to find an apartment and acquire some necessities via the thrift store. 

“When you have to start over, you only have so much income,” the mom noted. “It’s important for kids to have a bed. Otherwise, it can affect their body, and they can’t get good sleep or do good in school.”

The mom shared that her child felt the bed was comfortable and slept well the first few nights in it. The young child can also grow into the bed, since it is a size extra long. 

“People should know their donations are going to help others in the county who really need it,” Sturmer said. 

The mom added, “and we appreciate it.”

Now, though the mom herself is still sleeping on a child-sized, fold-up cot, at least her child won’t have to share it with her. 

Anyone interested in receiving a child’s bed through this project should contact Sturmer at Couleecap, 326-2463.

 

 

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