Sheridan stores across Australia are hosting their local charity partners to meet the faces behind the SleepSafe initiative in a celebration of the initiative’s four year anniversary.
At it’s heart, SleepSafe helps Australians facing homelessness and crisis to feel worthy, safe, and cared for through providing bed linen and towels to frontline organisations.
Over $1.8 million has been raised through instore and online donations, which will provide more than 118,000 sleep kits to vulnerable community members experiencing homelessness. The local-led model of SleepSafe sees Sheridan stores raising funds for Sleep Kits to be distributed to their local charities, supporting clients experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Across Australia, Sheridan staff advocate and fundraise to help provide sleep kits to vulnerable people in their region and for every $15 raised they are helping provide a Sleep Kit consisting of a sheet set, pillowcase and towel. The sleep kits help to create the simple comforts of home for those facing a difficult time in their life and also provide much needed financial relief to local community organisations who receive very little funding.
The comfort and dignity that brand new sheets and towels give to someone who is facing homelessness, moving on from sleeping rough, or is finally in a safe home away from domestic and family violence, is immense. The partnership between StreetSmart and Sheridan highlights the power of local led fundraising and the importance of strong connected communities in responding to issues like homelessness.
With homelessness numbers soaring amid the rental and cost of living crisis, partnerships and initiatives like SleepSafe are having a greater impact than ever.
“This year has been extremely difficult for local homeless shelters and groups. The overwhelming demand for help has placed strain on already overstretched services. The support of SleepSafe donations has provided significant help to our community partners and we are so grateful for the generosity of Sheridan customers and staff in making this initiative such a success,” said CEO StreetSmart Australia Geoff Hills.
Wide ranging support for SleepSafe, from Sheridan staff to donors and supporters, has enabled the program to achieve rapid and sustained grassroots impact. Recently celebrating 100,000 kits distributed, SleepSafe partner network has grown by 14% in 2023 alone, supplying high quality sheets and towels to now 630 homelessness services in Australia.