CARMEL- Members of the Carmel Rotary, along with Eileen Kelly, gathered at Restoration Furniture in Carmel last Thursday. The Rotary Club’s motto of “Service Above Self” is once again being felt throughout Putnam County, thanks to the members of the Carmel Rotary Club.
Last year, the Club raised funds for the national organization Sleep in Heavenly Peace during the Carmel Rotary’s Basketball Challenge. Sleep in Heavenly Peace believes that a bed is a basic need for the proper physical, emotional, and mental support that a child needs. Inspired by Sleep in Heavenly Peace’s mission to provide beds for children in need, Carmel Rotarians decided to undertake a similar project focusing on Putnam County families.
Rotarian Kevin Carroll, who is coordinating the Putnam project, explained, “All children deserve a safe, comfortable place to lay their heads. In affluent Putnam County, boys and girls are going to sleep without a bed – or even a pillow to sleep on. These children end up sleeping on couches, blankets, and even floors. This can affect their happiness and health.”
With the assistance of Eileen Kelly of the Putnam County Department of Social Services, families are selected while Rotarians work with Denise and Paul Bucello of Restoration Furniture to purchase beds, and the County arranges for delivery. All recipient information will remain confidential. Carroll said that, in addition to funds from the Carmel club, the Bed of My Own project is being supported by a grant from the Rotary District and individual contributions raised at the 2024 Rotary Basketball Challenge.
