#ygkChallenge: Sweet Dreams Project
The #ygkchallenge is an ongoing series where we dare you to be different, resolve to be better, and or do something awesome in support of our beloved community. Each week, Kingstonist establishes a new, ambitious or quirky goal, encouraging you to step out of your comfort zone and do something great, and hopefully a little out of the ordinary. By taking part in this community-wide initiative, we hope to make Kingston (and the world) a slightly better place to live, work and play.
This week’s #ygkchallenge encourages you to:
Help give refugees a good night’s sleep. The Sweet Dreams Project came to be in September 2016, shortly after the heartbreaking image of 3-year-old Alan Kurdi made global headlines when he drowned while fleeing Syria with his family. Since that time, many Canadian cities, including Kingston, have taken on dozens of Syrian refugee families, and many folks in the community have been working hard to see that these families have what they need to make a fresh start. While there are a number of ways to help through the Community Refugee Relief Fund – a partnership between the city, The United Way, KEYS Job Centre and Kingston Community Health Centres – another grass roots effort has been created by community member and KEYS volunteer Amy Cordsen – the Sweet Dreams Project. While there are many needs to fulfill for these families, SDP focuses on making sure they have the simple luxury of sheets and pillows for a good night’s sleep.
“There are so many factors that make this simple luxury that’s taken for granted hard for these families. Limited funds is of course a huge impediment….That’s where the Sweet Dreams Project comes in. I want to help ensure that every Syrian refugee moving into Kingston has a pillow and sheets for their first night in their new home.”
Since its inception, the SDP has been able to buy the bedding needs for every new refugee involved with the KEYS program. That’s 78 pillows, 59 sheet sets, and 27 duvets. But now funds are running low and Kingston is anticipating the arrival of more families. SDP is looking for help from community members. A small monetary donation can go a long way to help make these families more comfortable after what has been a horrific ordeal. This week we challenge you to make a financial donation or a donation of very gently used sheets, pillows or blankets. You can learn more about the project and how to donate through their Facebook page.
Join us in completing this week’s #ygkchallenge by liking it on Facebook and/or re-Tweeting it on Twitter. By liking and sharing, you’re not only committing to doing something great, but you’re also helping us spread the word and hopefully encouraging others to participate.
Photo credit to Shawn Rossi.