Expand Energy Teams With St. Vincent De Paul Society To Deliver Beds To Those In Need
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WHEELING -- Expand Energy helped the St. Vincent de Paul Society provide several families with a better night’s sleep Wednesday morning by volunteering with the society’s bed ministry.
Expand Community Affairs Manager Stephanie Paluda said the company began working with the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s bed ministry after learning about the program during a United Way allocations meeting.
While she understood the importance of helping people experiencing homelessness find housing, Paluda said she did not realize securing a home was only the first step.
“I didn’t really realize there was an issue where, OK, you’ve worked really hard and you’ve secured housing, but now you and your children are sleeping on the floor or the couch or on a chair,” she said.
The partnership grew from there, with Expand’s summer interns and company employees using company pickup trucks to deliver gently used mattresses, box springs and bed frames, along with bedding supplies.
The Fort Henry Piecemakers Quilt Guild also supports the effort by providing handmade quilts for each family.
St. Vincent de Paul Society Secretary Vickie Joseph said the organization is operated entirely by volunteers. As members have gotten older, the group has increasingly relied on outside volunteers to assist with deliveries.
The day Expand Energy volunteers each year is one of the society’s busiest delivery days. On Wednesday, volunteers delivered 12 beds to seven families.
“It’s just amazing that they give back to the community the way they do,” Joseph said. “It’s great that they come into the community, see a need and actually take steps to meet that need.”
Paluda said volunteering with programs such as the bed ministry allows Expand employees to see the immediate impact of their efforts.
“Today we get to walk away and say, OK, great, now these children have a better chance at succeeding at school after they get a full eight hours of sleep at night in a nice bed,” she said. “It’s really setting them up for success.”