SNA Furniture Task Force Meeting Minutes
November 18, 2015
Attendance: Talia Frye- Brighton Center, Beth Hodge - Brighton Center, Andy Brunsman-Be Concerned,
Chris Mueller - Brighton Center, Susan Barnhill - Lifepoint Solutions, Doreen Johnson-DCBS, Jill BrownSafety Net Alliance VISTA
Welcome and Introductions
Purpose of SNA Furniture Task Force – Sweet Dreams Northern Kentucky:
To increase the number of beds distributed to children in our region, shine a light on the need for
beds/furniture in our community, work collaboratively as SNA partners to increase efficiency in our
community.
The need for beds and furniture for families has been a long identified barrier for families on their path
to stabilization and self-sufficiency. Because of this need, SNA Furniture Task Force proposes NKY’s own
Sweet Dreams of Northern Kentucky program modeled around Morehead State’s Build-A-Bed program.
Our first year goal is to build and distribute 50 twin beds complete with mattresses, sheets, comforters,
etc. SNA partners collaborating on this project include Be Concerned, Northern Kentucky Community
Action Commission, People Working Cooperatively, Housing Authority of Covington, Humana Care
Source and Brighton Center.
LOGO: Logo design has been finalized.
Sponsorships: Looking for agencies to sponsor beds/bed builds; bedtime kit supply teams; hospitalityfood teams; shrink wrap-delivery/home assembly teams.

Andy Brunsman will contact Master Provisions about suppling shrink wrap, and he will contact
Bernhard’s Bakery for donation of breakfast items.

Doreen Johnson will contact McDonald for ice and beverages.

Looking for a lunch sponsor.
Funding:

Sweet Dreams currently has $6000.00 in funds, the goal is $7500.00, and everything raised over
goal will be used as determined by the committee.
Venue: Gateway Urban Campus Covington, Kentucky, has been officially confirmed.

Set up day will be Friday, March 18th starting at 1pm (to load the bedframes and other event
materials into the gym and store overnight) and Saturday, March 19th from 7:30am – 2pm (to
build the beds and load them into trucks) Gateway M&O staff will let the SDNKY team into the
gym both Friday at 1pm and Saturday at 7:30am.
Beds:

Mattresses – Tempurpedic $70.00 per mattress (no box spring needed)is currently the best price
found.

Build- 10 teams of 5-6 members with a construction lead; each team will build 5 beds each. A
shrink wrap station will be set up to bundle materials together for delivery to homes.
Volunteers: Beth Hodge will gather volunteers in January and assign to task. Volunteers will be grouped
into:

Build teams; 5-7 persons per team/10 team’s total.

Delivery team will shrink wrap, load and deliver beds.

Hospitality/Food teams
Selection:

Protocols for selection
o
Sub-committee will be formed to process selection of families by Andy Brunsman; two week
window for open registration; applications will be accepted for children only. Case managers
will be asked to seek applicants that qualify for the program. Agencies submitting candidates
must be Safety Net Agency members.
o
Identify 50 children that live in Boone Kenton or Campbell County who are in need of a bed.
Divide bed distribution equally between counties if applicable through a lottery system;
names will be placed in a hopper to be chosen. Once children are chosen ask families if they
would like the bed (or beds, for multi child homes chosen) delivered and assembled.
o
New applications will need to be submitted for each new build.
o
Follow up 3 months after delivery of beds with families; gather impact stories of each child
given a bed.
Future Goals:

Triple the amount of beds built by next fall.

Metal Beds as opposed to wood may be considered an option for next build.

Hospitality group formed.

Volunteer groups formed.

Construction Leads chosen.

Woodcut teams formed; wood will be precut prior to build.
Next Meeting:
Monday, December 14th at 3:00 PM
Be Concerned
714 Washington Avenue
Covington, Ky.41011