ROCHESTER, N.Y.–- The Summit Federal Credit Union has announced a two-year, $30,000 commitment to Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) chapters in Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse.
According to the credit union, $10,000 will be dispersed to each of the three SHP chapters over the next two years ($5,000 in 2025, $5,000 in 2026) to assist in supporting their mission of ensuring that no kid sleeps on the floor in our towns and cities. The financial gift across all three organizations will total $30,000.
“All children deserve a safe, comfortable place to lay their heads. Across the US, too many boys and girls go without a bed – or even a pillow – to sleep on,” The Summit said in a statement. “These children end up sleeping on couches, blankets, floors, and even piles of dirty clothes. What started as a local mission to help neighbors became an international movement. Today, SHP has grown to 350 chapters, with thousands of dedicated volunteers who have built, assembled, and delivered more than 260,000 beds to children in need. With child bedlessness affecting approximately 2%-3% of children in communities across America, the math is clear: millions of children still need the help of SHP.”
Added Summit President and CEO Laurie Baker in a statement, “The Summit is committed to making a difference in the communities that we serve. A comfortable and safe place to rest is a basic need which many children in our regions simply don’t have. Lack of a restful night’s sleep affects overall health, happiness, and the ability to learn and thrive. By partnering with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, we will be able to make an immediate impact on the lives of children and their families.”
SHP delivers a complete bed to a child: frame, mattress, and all bedding tailored as much as possible to the tastes of the child. In addition to their financial support and bed builds in all three regions that The Summit serves, the credit union will host annual pillow and bedding drives in all its branches to which members will be able to contribute.
Below, Twanda Christensen, VP of Marketing and Community Engagement, The Summit Federal Credit Union; Donna Ritchie, Co-President of SHP Rochester; Shawn Ritchie, Co-President of SHP Rochester; Laurie Baker, President and CEO, The Summit Federal Credit Union.
