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Cynthia Shafer
Cynthia Shafer a Realtor with Lahaina Realty has donated and delivered thousands of beds to children in need. She knows just how much need there is because for 20 years she has volunteered as a Guardian ad Litem representing abused, abandoned and neglected children in Lee County, Fla. (Ft. Myers area) courts. She sees children removed from abused parents and placed in the care of relatives or foster parents. But those grandparents, aunts and uncles are only allowed to receive a child if they have a bed for the child to sleep in at night. Some family members are willing to care for the child but can't afford a bed. So she and her husband John started buying and delivering beds. That is how Bedz for Kidz was born 15 years ago. Every Thursday Cynthia calls families to set up Saturday deliveries, . Fridays she buys the cribs and toddler beds which are assembled before delivery .At each delivery she sets up the bed and makes the bed with new child themed sheets and leaves a cuddly stuffed animal along with a book to read. She serves five counties, so some Saturdays she puts more than 300 miles on their truck. As of 2015 at least 2,500 beds have been delivered. Cynthia speaks to groups all over the five counties to explain the need. She hugs all those who donate and then gets hugs from happy children. I see her head out to visit children, type reports and cry over some of those cases. Then I see kid's letters saying thank you. She even got to go to a graduation of a foster child Josh Kelchner when he finished West Point. Oh, the hundreds of stories I could tell...A 72 year old grandma was sleeping on a lawn chair for 2 1/2 years so that her grandchildren could have her bed. Now this story, a boy who suffered burns from head to toe when his abusive father set him on fire, needed a double bed so that he wouldn't have to do physical therapy on the floor or a cold table. The hero I see working tirelessly on the phone, spending her weekends driving mile after mile to give children beds, speaking to whoever will listen, and just working for hugs, Inspiring? YES...Hero?..Most Certainly.
Submitted by Anonymous
