In 2009, Jill Schwarzkopf had a dream. Feeling called to help the children who struggle through life at no fault of their own, she started working on Sleep Tight Kids. It is no easy task to run a non-profit, asking for donation, volunteers, acceptance, and faith. But here we are, 14 years later and Sleep Tight Kids delivers almost 2700 comfort bags a year, to children in desperate situations. Jill’s vision has turned into answered prayers for many, many kids, and their caregivers.

Over the years, hundreds of volunteers have hosted fundraisers, stuffed comfort bags, and delivered bags to the local DSS, Sheriff’s Departments, Fire Stations, Homeless Shelters, Crisis Centers and more. These volunteers share their time with Sleep Tight Kids because they also feel called to give back to the community. These volunteers see how critical it is to be at service to children who have few possessions and even less support at home. Our thoughts, if we can give them a little comfort along their journey, maybe they will be more resilient, less anxious and feel the love that goes into creating these bags for each of them. Some of our volunteers have seen the reality of traumas that many of the recipients have been through. Because our hearts go out to the children for the hardships, tears and fears they have endured, we are striving to ease their pain, even if a small amount. Compassionate and heart centered people are the core of what make Sleep Tight Kids thrive in our community.

To spend a few hours a month in service to others can fill your soul. To know that the children will appreciate the small comforts from your minimal efforts, is heartwarming. To know that you are also being a small part of the resiliency that keeps struggling kids moving in the right direction is life changing for you and the children.

So how can you become a part of this heart centered organization? It is so simple. Just go to sleeptightkids.org and click on the Volunteer link, choose the events and services that light you up, show up, and share Sleep Tight Kids with everyone you know.

share this:

share this:

Everyone has been making adjustments to their lives recently due to stay-at-home orders in light of the global covid-19 pandemic. Sleep Tight Kids has adjusted their normal operations and put a halt to comfort bag stuffing events, in-person fundraisers, and deliveries for the time being. Instead, we are focusing on shipping directly to the organizations we normally provide for and asking them what their needs currently are.

We know that even though we can’t carry on as usual, the needs of the children we support not only live on but have likely grown in recent months.

Many local organizations and charities have wish lists on Amazon Smile and this is a great way to get items directly to those in need. We have been using our funds to order things off of wish lists recently and encourage our supporters to check out local wish lists as well if you’re able.

We have been checking in with the organizations that we normally provide for and addressing any needs that they currently have, shipping items to them directly. If you are an organization that has needs that aren’t being addressed, please reach out to us by contacting deliveries@sleeptightkids.org we would love to help you and the children you support.

Our ambassadors are also finding new and innovative ways to raise funds during this time, including Carrie Myers of Inspired Change Yoga who is hosting virtual yoga to benefit Sleep Tight Kids. This Sunday, May 3 at noon, she is hosting an hour long online yoga class and the fee is only $10 (all of which goes to helping children in need). You can purchase tickets at the link below.

Thank you to all our supporters for continuing to keep the children in Western North Carolina in your hearts and minds during this time. To donate directly to Sleep Tight Kids, click here. We are a 100% volunteer-based organization so all of the money you donate goes directly to the children that need it.

share this:

Amidst the chaos of the corona virus, ashevillians got out of the house, hand sanitizer at the ready, and supported local businesses. Below, Maisie of Maisie Twenty (an adorable kids boutique downstairs from Hazel Twenty) serves as the mascot for the store and watches people as they pass by. I imagine she’s a big help in getting people to want to walk in this door. photos by Sarah Whitmeyer Photography

I know things are a little crazy right now and it’s hard to know what to do, but supporting our neighbors/local business owners in the community is oh so important. We thank Lexi Diyeso, owner of Hazel Twenty and Maisie Twenty, for donating a portion of her sales to the children of western NC for our Shop For a Cause event yesterday. AB Publow Designs (image below) was also there, selling jewelry and donating a portion of her profits to Sleep Tight Kids.

If you’re sick, by all means, stay at home. But if you’re feeling well and you want to get out and help the community, put some money into your local businesses directly by shopping for a cause. Just bring your hand sanitizer! Maisie will be here to greet you!
Maisie of Maisie Twenty

Sick and don’t want to leave the house? You can shop online and support this local business at https://shophazeltwenty.com

Again, Sleep Tight Kids thanks Lexi Diyeso, owner of Hazel Twenty and Maisie Twenty, for donating a portion of proceeds to help the children of Western North Carolina feel safe and loved.

If you own a local business and you’d like to host a similar event,

email info@sleeptightkids.org or events@sleeptightkids.org

Check out other ways to donate or volunteer or help our cause

share this:

This afternoon, Sleep Tight Kids board members and Ambassadors gathered at Crown Plaza Asheville for the annual Ambassador Luncheon. Jill, STK founder, spoke about the growth of Sleep Tight Kids in the past year, noting that there were twice as many ambassadors to thank this year than last year!

2020 Ambassadors include the following local businesses, community members and organizations:

Jill, Founder of Sleep Tight Kids, thanks Ambassadors for their support

For information about how you or your business can become involved in helping the children of Western North Carolina, email info@sleeptightkids.org

You can also check out our previous blog post on how to become an ambassador here.

share this:

The Little Gym is already a huge supporter of Sleep Tight Kids, donating all the bags for our comfort bags that go to children in need in Western North Carolina. This past Friday, they also held a fundraiser Daddy-Daughter dance at their location in Gerber Village in South Asheville. It was such a sweet event to witness! These dads showered their baby girls with love! Thank you so much, Little Gym for all you do. Here are some photos from the dance courtesy of Sarah Whitmeyer Photography.

For more information about how you or your business can help the children of Western North Carolina, contact info@sleeptightkids.org

share this:

Recently, this adorable downtown Asheville boutique held an event to raise money for Sleep Tight Kids. The only thing better than shopping local is shopping local for a cause! Thank you to owner, Anna Grace, for graciously donating a portion of your proceeds to help the children of Western North Carolina. Photos by Sarah Whitmeyer

Owner Anna K. Grace (left) with employee, Katharine Coulman (right)

If you own a business and want to learn more about how to host a similar event (or if you’d like to donate or volunteer for our cause), please contact info@sleeptightkids.org

In addition to this event, Traveling Chic also donates year-round though their “skip the bag” campaign. Customers are offered the option to skip the bag and donate $1 to a local charity of their choice.

share this:

We have been very busy raising money and putting that money to work for the children of Western North Carolina recently. Here are a few updates on what we have been up to lately:

Giving Tuesday was a HUGE success! We raised $26,000 in a single day with a big thanks to Dennis Hulsing of Hulsing Enterprises who matched donations up to $10,000

Wendy Knowles, left, with Sleep Tight Kids founder Jill Schwarzkopf, and Dennis Hulsing and his son, Kyle at our recent Copper Crown Fundraiser on January 6.

Thanks to Copper Crown Restaurant on Tunnel Rd. in Asheville for donating a portion of their profits for Dine out for a Cause to Sleep Tight Kids.

Photos taken by Jill Schwarzkopf, during the Dine Out for a Cause event recently.

As always, we have also been busy delivering comfort bags to those in need in our community. Just this week, a total of 140 Comfort Bags were delivered to Haywood County DSS, REACH in Waynesville, The Bair Foundation in Asheville and Eliada in Asheville.

As a reminder of why we do this work, here is a recent letter from DSS in Polk County to our founder, Jill, thanking her for all the foundation does to help children.

Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram for ways to help and volunteer.

https://www.facebook.com/SleepTightKids/

https://www.instagram.com/sleeptightkids/

share this:

Volunteering for one of our bag stuffing events is one of the easiest ways to get involved with Sleep Tight Kids. Both you and your children will really enjoy putting comfort bags together for other children in our area.

We stuffed bags recently on September 19th and then delivered all over western North Carolina the following Monday. We are always looking for more volunteers: Contact volunteer@sleeptightkids.org for more info on how you and your family can get involved! Photos by Sarah Whitmeyer


share this:

Local Businesses now have an easy way to become supporters of Sleep Tight Kids–Become an ambassador by following the steps below.

Recently, the following businesses have joined our ever-growing ambassador program: OP Taylors, Blossoms Creative, All State Agent Eric Morris, Classic Event Rental, Avante Beauty Lounge

Photos below from our last Ambassador Luncheon at the Wedge Brewery in Asheville:

Email info@sleeptightkids.org for more details on how to become an ambassador and start helping the children of Western North Carolina today.

share this: