ABOUT US
Founded in 2014 as a non-profit, My Very Own Bed had one goal: to provide new beds to children moving into stable housing. By 2023, we’ve provided more than 7,000 beds and Dream Kits to children ages 2-17 in the Twin Cities and surrounding suburbs.
Michael Allen saw this great need while working in social services and helping families move out of shelters and into homes. What struck him was seeing so many children with poor sleeping conditions because basic furnishings like a child’s bed were out of reach.
Allen knew we should be doing more for our communities and founded My Very Own Bed to provide a new bed, set of sheets, blanket, pillow, mattress pad, stuffed animal, and book to children who might otherwise go without. The impact is immediate; improving where and how children sleep improves their overall health and well being.
Healthy sleep can catapult a child into improving all areas of their lives. With support from our network of volunteers, donors, and referral partners, we can get new beds and Dream Kits to children who need them. As our funding and network grow, our ability to impact even more kids’ lives grows with it. Get involved today!
OUR VALUES
Building community within the communities we provide beds to is vitally important to fulfilling our mission of providing new beds and linens to children of families who have recently secured stable housing. My Very Own Bed values:
Relationships first
Respect and dignity for all
Open to growth and improvement
Our Mission: To provide new beds and linens to children of families who have recently secured stable housing.
Our Vision: All children should have a bed so they can sleep well, dream, and find comfort in a place of their own.
Founder Michael Allen treasures the sense of pride a child has when they receive their own bed and Dream Kit.
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With each relationship we build, we’re supporting the community and ensuring children have a warm and cozy place to sleep each night.
COMMITMENT TO RACIAL EQUITY
Sleep is a foundational resource with many long-term health benefits, yet systemic inequities deny it to many children, particularly those facing racism. While we provide beds to all children referred to us by our partners, our own data confirms that a disproportionate number of children we provide beds to are from historically marginalized groups. Our work plays a role in addressing this disparity and seeks to advance racial equity within our organization and our community, by:
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Treating everyone with dignity and respect
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Identifying how the dominant culture influences our internal policies and practices, while seeking to create ones that honor and celebrate everyone’s experiences
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Intentionally diversifying our organization and partnerships to include the voices of the communities and organizations we are honored to work with
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Listening, learning, and growing from both our successes and mistakes
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Being accountable to ourselves (both staff and board) and the community by regularly setting measurable goals and communicating about our plans and progress.