In the photo, you’ll see two of my boys—my seven-year-old and my thirteen-year-old—standing behind our pickup truck. Sticking out of the bed of the truck are two cardboard boxes. They don’t look very exciting at first glance.
But inside those boxes are twin-size beds and mattresses.
Today, we were delivering them to grandparents who have opened their home to their three- and five-year-old granddaughters.
At Christmas time, kids are usually buzzing with excitement about toys, games, and surprises under the tree. But this year, these two little girls are excited about something very different.
They’re excited because they’re getting their own beds.
That may not sound like much to some of us—but for a child who has experienced loss, instability, or trauma, a bed is so much more than furniture.
It’s safety.
It’s consistency.
It’s belonging.
Through CarePortal, the number one tangible need we help meet is beds. Over and over again, families step up to care for children—but they don’t always have the basic resources to do it well. Children end up sharing beds with siblings, sleeping on couches, or even sharing space with adults.
Children deserve better.
Every child deserves a bed of their own—a place they can return to every night and know, this is mine. A place where they can rest, feel secure, and begin to heal.
So this Christmas, when you tuck your child or grandchild into their bed, I invite you to pause for just a moment.
Think of these two little girls.
When they wake up on Christmas morning, they won’t just be waking up to a holiday—they’ll be waking up in their own beds, feeling safe and secure.
Sometimes, the greatest gifts don’t come wrapped in paper and bows.
Sometimes, they come in two cardboard boxes sticking out of the back of a pickup truck.