Salvation Army and Ashley HomeStore's "Hope to Dream" Program Further Partnership
Ashley HomeStore’s “Hope to Dream” Program is celebrating its 8th anniversary this month by furthering its partnership with The Salvation Army. 88 children in The Fox Valley received beds through Salvation Army Corps Community Centers in Elgin, Joliet, and The Tri-Cities and celebrated at a Christmas Family Party held at The Salvation Army Tri-City Corps on Saturday, December 1st. The event included food, games, an interactive children’s DJ and Santa.
“It’s an amazing experience to see kids bouncing or jumping on the bed and it’s a wonderful feeling to see the parents extremely grateful for something we take for granted when we go home”, remarked Raphael Orozco, Store Manager at Ashley HomeStore. Each bed set includes a twin mattress set, sheets, and coverlet.
Children who received a bed in the Tri-Cities are part of the Adopt-A-Family Holiday program designed to assist families who are in crisis as a result of medical issues, unemployment, homelessness or other difficult circumstances, and who otherwise wouldn’t have the resources to celebrate holidays. Program sponsors or "Angels" who adopt the families provide them with food, clothing, and gifts. Captain Betsy Clark, Corps Officer at The Salvation Army Tri-City Corps added, “The holiday season can be dark for those who are unable to provide for their families. The Salvation Army strives to bring hope to the underserved and show them that Christ’s love will carry them through to the next day.”
Captain Heather Montenegro, of The Salvation Army Elgin, and Maria del Pilar Garcia, Parent Community Liaison for School District U-46 worked together to identify children in the greatest need. "When we received word from Ashley HomeStore that they would be providing beds to children in our area, we knew right away that we could use our partnership with U-46 Parent Community Liaisons to identify our most vulnerable children" stated Captain Montenegro. Mrs. Garcia was overwhelmed with the generosity of Ashley HomeStore, "Many of the kids receiving beds today have been sharing beds or sleeping on the floor; knowing they will be able to sleep in their very own beds tonight is amazing." Both Captain Montenegro and Mrs. Garcia have seen firsthand the difference generosity can make for families struggling, "Strong communities work together to serve better, we are very grateful for The Salvation Army and Ashley HomeStore for making this Christmas extra special for these families", added Mrs. Garcia.
Ashley HomeStore believes that every child deserves a good night’s sleep. The Hope to Dream program provides beds to less fortunate children across the U.S. and Canada. A portion of the proceeds of every mattress purchased at one of the 435 participating Ashley HomeStores help pay for beds for children in need.
The Salvation Army’s Christmas assistance program makes sure the holidays are bright for thousands of families annually. Families who register for the Army’s Angel Tree program receive toys and clothing for their children to open on Christmas morning and a food voucher to purchase a full Christmas dinner.