ELBOW GREASE TADS SALVE KIDS’ NEEDS

Business, volunteers set goal, work to build 50 beds for local children

Local organizations are devoting time and resources to providing a good night’s rest.

Good Knights of Lorain County partnered with Lowe’s Hero to build 50 beds to benefit local children.

The construction took place on Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. in Lowe’s parking lot, 646 Midway Blvd. in Elyria

Although Good Knights of Lorain County has only been an official organization since August 2020, they have provided approximately 350 beds for youngsters between ages 3 and eighteen.

Roger Dorsey, executive director of Good Knights, says Lowe’s sponsored this specific bed build project.

“These beds are being sponsored by Lowe’s here in Elyria so the majority of them will go to kids that actually live in the city,” he said. “They have helped us beyond measure.”

Brittany Roberts, manager of Lowe’s Elyria, says they look forward to impacting the city.

“Lowe’s of Elyria is happy to fund another bed build event for our community,” she said.

“We are thankful for the partnership with Good Knights of Lorain County and look forward to helping local families in need,” Roberts said.

The volunteer crew assisted building the bed frames which would then be supplemented with mattresses, sheets and pillows.

Dorsey says the amount of community assistance shows the heart of the people.

“It shows the desire of the

general citizens in Lorain County to want to help,” he said. “We have volunteers from businesses, churches and some people saw us out here and wanted to join.”

As a child, Dorsey said, when he moved to Ohio from West Virginia he experienced being bedless as

well.

“I was one of these kids who had to sleep on the floor,” Dorsey said. “We lived with nine people in a three bedroom house and generally every night my bed was in the closet on a pile of clothes.

“I know what these kids go through and want to give them a foundation for a good night’s rest.”

Dorsey says the mission is more important now than ever in the wake of novel coronavirus pandemic.

“We want to get as many kids in beds so that no matter what happens they have a safe space in their homes,” he said.

The beds constructed will be delivered within a week or so, Dorsey said.

“We will continue going forward until we end child bedlessness here in Lorain County.”

PHOTOS BY ALIAH KIMBRO — THE MORNING JOURNAL Local volunteers gather at Lowe’s in Elyria to assist Good Knights of Lorain County build 50beds for youngsters.

ALIAH KIMBRO — THE MORNING JOURNAL Local volunteers gather at Lowe’s in Elyria to assist Good Knights of Lorain County build 50beds for youngsters.