The purpose of the sleeping bag drive is not only to provide warmth for a child but also security. Many of these children are sleeping outside, in vehicles or in over-crowded houses. Most of the time they sleep on a floor or couch. The goal is to collect 2,600 new sleeping bags for minors ages 3-21, which would be one sleeping bag for every homeless child in the state of Delaware. To date, 250 sleeping bags have been donated.

Students from Polytech High School donated 51 sleeping bags, and Attorney General Beau Biden’s office gave 50 as well. Wendy Strauss, the administrator for the Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens, said, “By donating a sleeping bag, the public gives a child warmth as well as a gift that is all their own. Most of these children do not have many material possessions, so when they receive the sleeping bags they are overjoyed by the fact that they are able to keep it for themselves.”

Since the kickoff, there has been distribution of the sleeping bags to the children who are residing in homeless shelters. The children are so excited they immediately go into their room and place them on their beds although they have been known to make a fort with them as well. Once they leave the shelter they know that no matter where they go they are able to have their very own place to lie down and go to sleep every night.

Not only do the children receive a sleeping bag, but they also get an oral health kit which includes a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss as well as other items. The children also will receive a book based on their age and reading level.

Agencies participating in the campaign include the Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens, the Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council, the Council for Exceptional Children, The Shepherd Place homeless shelter, Kent County Tourism, the Delaware Department of Education, Caesar Rodney School District, New Castle County Vo-Tech School District, Lake Forest School District, Food Bank of Delaware and the Delaware Oral Health Coalition.

New sleeping bags can be donated and dropped off in Sussex County at the Food Bank of Delaware, 1040 Mattlind Way, Milford; YWCA Delaware, 20155 Office Circle, Unit 1, Georgetown; and at WSFS Bank locations in Lewes, Long Neck, Millsboro, Ocean View, Rehoboth Beach and Selbyville.

For details on how to contribute to this campaign, contact Susan Hayes with the Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens at 302-739-4553 or shayes@gacec.k12.de.us