River Hawk Student Athletes, Athletic staff and community partners from Align Credit Union all came together for the inaugural Build-A-Bed event at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell Thursday, January 9 for a common good, partnering together to support A Bed for Every Child.
 
Over two hours, the coalition of volunteers built 40 beds for kids who may not otherwise be able to afford one.
 
"UMass Lowell Athletics believes community engagement is an integral part of the overall student-athlete experience," said Director of Athletics Peter Casey. "It teaches our student-athletes to give back to the community, which results in a lasting and positive impact on our society.  Not only are they providing service to our community, but they are also acquiring different perspectives outside of the classroom and their respective sports programs. Working with community partners like Align Credit Union to enhance our student-athlete experience while giving back is what makes this community so special."
 
The day started with some history of the program and how big of an impact these beds will make on their recipients from Yadira Carvajal, the on-site program coordinator from A Bed for Every Child, and a video showing the lasting effect of the volunteers effort.
 
From there, volunteers from the Athletic Department and Align joined together to get to work. 
 
"Seeing Align employees, along with UMass Lowell student athletes, coaches and staff come together to support A Bed for Every Child is truly heartwarming," said Tom Hammond, Align EVP and CFO.  "Together, we are helping to ensure that local children get a good night's sleep and that they will arrive at school refreshed and ready to learn."
 
From construction to painting, teamwork and ingenuity was at work as over 40 beds were constructed, completed with stars on the headboard to customize the bed for each recipient.
 
"A bed may not seem like the most pressing social issue facing kids growing up in poverty, yet thousands of children across Massachusetts are without a bed of their own. The reason is simply that their parents are unable to afford one.  A Bed for Every Child knows a bed alone is not going to end poverty, but we do know giving a child a good night's sleep can help them at school," said A Bed for Every Child Director Tina Baptista. "We also know that an education is the pathway for a child to raise up and out of poverty as an adult. A Bed for Every Child wants to give every child one more tool in their toolbox toward getting an education and that begins with a good night's sleep on a bed of their own."
 
A Bed for Every Child is an initiative of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless that distributes new twin beds to children living in poverty throughout Massachusetts. Since its inception, the program has delivered nearly 10,000 beds.  The Build A Bed Project is a sponsored event that brings teams together to build, sand, and stain, a twin bed frame. Upon delivery A Bed for Every Child delivers the bed frame, mattress, and necessities. 
 
To learn more visit www.abedforeverychild.org