GREENSBORO, N.C. — A North Carolina nonprofit that helps children get beds of their own is growing to meet the need. 

What You Need To Know

  • A Bed and A Book provides beds, bedding and books to children in need 

  • Founder Anneliese Wall said the nonprofit has built and delivered 400 beds to children since launching in 2019 

  • The organization started in Forsyth County, expanded to Greensboro and High Point and will launch in Watauga County in April

A Bed and A Book delivers a new twin-sized bed, mattress, bedding, pillow and age-appropriate books to children in need who are typically identified by referring agencies.

According to founder Anneliese Wall, the nonprofit has built and delivered 400 beds to children since launching in 2019. The organization started in Forsyth County, expanded to Greensboro and High Point and will launch in Watauga County in April. 

Wall said A Bed and A Book has a waiting list that continues to grow. 

“I never imagined we would grow so quickly. I really didn’t imagine the need was so large for kids sleeping on the floor, but as we started going and more people started reaching out from the cities saying that they needed our assistance as well, we realized how great and how large the need is,” Wall said. 

Wall said that not getting enough sleep can have emotional and physical impacts that can last beyond childhood. A National Institutes of Health report states that insufficient sleep can affect brain development in children and cause issues with everything from mood to memory. 

A team of firefighters and UNCG students recently participated in a build event for A Bed and A Book at Fire Station 2 in Greensboro. Firefighter Phil Rash said there is a clear need for the nonprofit’s work. He described going into houses on calls and seeing children without a bed or several children using a couch to sleep, and he wanted to help. 

“They were running low on beds, and they were having to delay deliveries to children getting beds, so I decided to sponsor a certain amount … 20 beds where we could get them back on track and keep her moving forward,” Rash explained.

Wall said Hickory, Statesville, Wilmington, Raleigh and Durham have also expressed interest in launching local chapters of A Bed and A Book. More information about how to volunteer, donate and qualify to receive a bed is available here.