About
A ministry that sprang from First Presbyterian Church, Shelbyville, KY, and an official ministry of Presbyterian Church (USA), that provides beds and bedding for children in their home.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN:
Picture your child after a camp out--grumpy, whiny and tired the next day. Imagine sleeping this way every night and it’s normal. They are going to school, being expected to perform well, held to the same standards as others who slept. Not having a restful night's sleep is a barrier to a child's learning and growth. Ten-year-old Jessica Collins founded A Place to Sleep in Dec. 2009 after learning her school had a list of students they knew didn’t have a bed and no resource to help them. She had watched the movie, The Blind Side, came home with lots of questions, and quickly went to work to find a solution.
The main objective of A Place to Sleep is to provide beds for children who don’t have one. A good night’s sleep is essential to a child's physical, mental and emotional growth. SleepFoundation.org recommends teens have at least 8-10 hrs. of sleep, with younger ones receiving more. A Place to Sleep has provided over 3,300 beds in children’s homes throughout Kentucky with 25+ on a growing waiting list. Schools have followed the progress of students helped and found they are coming to school rested and ready to learn and are missing fewer days. Students are in a better mood, and their behavior is much improved. Grades are rising, and their overall sense of self-worth has greatly increased. A bed makes it possible for children to sleep sounder, learn better, grow healthier and live kinder. It is making a difference.
The main objective of A Place to Sleep is to provide beds for children who don’t have one. A good night’s sleep is essential to a child's physical, mental and emotional growth. SleepFoundation.org recommends teens have at least 8-10 hrs. of sleep, with younger ones receiving more. A Place to Sleep has provided over 3,300 beds in children’s homes throughout Kentucky with 25+ on a growing waiting list. Schools have followed the progress of students helped and found they are coming to school rested and ready to learn and are missing fewer days. Students are in a better mood, and their behavior is much improved. Grades are rising, and their overall sense of self-worth has greatly increased. A bed makes it possible for children to sleep sounder, learn better, grow healthier and live kinder. It is making a difference.
Place to Sleep operates on the beliefs that:
Here’s a list of how many children have been helped each year:
2009—2
2010—21
2011—32
2012—100
2013--185
2014--236
2015 -- 301
2016 -- 316
2017 -- 266
2018 -- 267
2019 -- 295
2020 -- 212
2021 -- 229
2022 -- 399
2023 -- 278
2024 -- 330 (as of November 17)
TOTAL 3,469 Children
Children are recommended by the Family Resource & Youth Service Center Coordinators at each school. A Place to Sleep has helped children from every school in the Shelby County School System as well as 25+ other Kentucky Counties. Some children too young to be enrolled in school have been recommended by Head Start, Salvation Army, HANDS Program, ALC Pregnancy Center, the Multi-Purpose Community Action Agency, and Seven County Services. Other agencies working with us include KY Cabinet for Health & Family Services, Family & Children’s Place, Coalition for the Homeless, and various churches. On occasion, referrals come from Operation Care, The Hope Village and The Serenity Center or even an individual calling for help. These families are still required to work with the Family Resource/Youth Service Centers for an official referral. This ensures that the children are enrolled and attending school, as well as enabling the school to help the family find other needed resources.
We encourage communities to host their own fundraisers to benefit the children there. Donors may designate where their funds are spent.
A Place to Sleep does not discriminate against any person or group based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation and/or gender identity, age, marital status, appearance, disability, level of education, political affiliation, veteran or immigration status, or genetic information.
- A good night's sleep is important to a child's health.
- A good night's sleep will help a child's concentration and improve school grades.
- Having a bed of their own improves a child's self-esteem.
Here’s a list of how many children have been helped each year:
2009—2
2010—21
2011—32
2012—100
2013--185
2014--236
2015 -- 301
2016 -- 316
2017 -- 266
2018 -- 267
2019 -- 295
2020 -- 212
2021 -- 229
2022 -- 399
2023 -- 278
2024 -- 330 (as of November 17)
TOTAL 3,469 Children
Children are recommended by the Family Resource & Youth Service Center Coordinators at each school. A Place to Sleep has helped children from every school in the Shelby County School System as well as 25+ other Kentucky Counties. Some children too young to be enrolled in school have been recommended by Head Start, Salvation Army, HANDS Program, ALC Pregnancy Center, the Multi-Purpose Community Action Agency, and Seven County Services. Other agencies working with us include KY Cabinet for Health & Family Services, Family & Children’s Place, Coalition for the Homeless, and various churches. On occasion, referrals come from Operation Care, The Hope Village and The Serenity Center or even an individual calling for help. These families are still required to work with the Family Resource/Youth Service Centers for an official referral. This ensures that the children are enrolled and attending school, as well as enabling the school to help the family find other needed resources.
We encourage communities to host their own fundraisers to benefit the children there. Donors may designate where their funds are spent.
A Place to Sleep does not discriminate against any person or group based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation and/or gender identity, age, marital status, appearance, disability, level of education, political affiliation, veteran or immigration status, or genetic information.
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