In 1996, the Detroit Free Press published an article about a young boy who was sleeping in a burned-out house with only an old coat to keep him warm. That story pulled at the strings of Kathleen Donnelly’s heart and moved her to gather supplies that the boy and his mother would need for a good night’s sleep. And that is how Sweet Dreamzzz came to be.

The purpose of Sweet Dreamzzz is to improve “children’s health, well-being, and academic performance by providing sleep education and bedtime essentials to economically disadvantaged students and their families.” Programs are geared towards elementary school-aged children, using interactive games and activities to teach students and their families about the benefits of good sleep and how to set up a successful bedtime routine. Each child then receives a sleep kit containing a sleeping bag or blanket, book, t-shirt, toothbrush and toothpaste.

Last month, Lee Flaherty and other members of the Greater Farmington Area Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Committee came together to help Sweet Dreamzzz package up sleep kits. It was an amazing opportunity to support a local charity doing so much good for the children of our community.

Visit the website to learn more about Sweet Dreamzzz and its mission.