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Sunshine League youngsters can rest easy thanks to donations

Kids helping kids: Warwick Academy After School Programme students raised $950 to purchase a Good Night?s Sleep Bedding Package for the Sunshine League home. Pictured from the left: Denise Carey, Sunshine League executive director, Wilma Masters, WA After School Programme assistant, Jean Vickers, WA After School Programme owner/operator, and Sarah Dunstan, Sunshine League Fund development director.

Children at the Sunshine League were given comfortable new beds after dozens of companies and individuals donated more than $35,000.A ‘Good Night’s Sleep’, a fundraising campaign initiated by specialty furnishing store Orange Bay Company, hoped to raise cash to replace used and ageing furniture at the children’s home.Store co-owner Delight Morris said the campaign was “successful beyond our greatest hopes”.With the help of local organisations, families and anonymous donors they raised enough cash to replace bedding and mattresses for 16 children.They also purchased and paid for the installation of new bathroom tiles and fitted 13 new pedestal sinks in the home’s restrooms.A set of French doors and a window was also replaced, while another window is expected to be replaced soon.The remainder of the cash will go towards a MarketPlace gift certificate that will help stock the Sunshine League’s pantry.Executive director of the charity Denise Carey said: “The children who temporarily reside at the Sunshine League typically come to us during times of crisis in their lives. Being able to offer them a comfortable, welcoming environment is key to making them feel safe, which is the first step in helping them move forward to a better living situation.“Due to funding constraints, significant upgrades to the Sunshine League facilities haven’t occurred for 15 years. But as a result of the campaign for a Good Night’s Sleep, the kids at our facility now have comfortable beds and new bathrooms.“I can’t thank the organisers and participants enough for their generosity.”Mrs Morris said she was pleased with the success of the fundraising effort and hoped it could “make the Sunshine League premises a little more comfortable for the kids who call the facility home”.“One of the most gratifying aspects of this initiative was the mix of donors who came together to help the Sunshine League,” she said, adding that they had corporations, independent businesses, individuals, school children,and even the Band and Corps of Drums of the Bermuda Regiment donate funds to support the cause.“I would like to thank everyone who sponsored the purchase of a bedding package or bought a campaign shopping bag to help out,” Mrs Morris said.Donors include Arch Capital Group and Ascendant Group of Companies, who both gave more than $5,000.Other groups, including Flagstone Re, Enstar Ltd, Island Home Development Ltd and the OIL Group of Companies, gave money towards the campaign.Donors will get to see the upgrades at a special open house at the Sunshine League tomorrow, which is the charity’s 92nd anniversary.