The day could not have been more beautiful. On July 7, Meghann Clark and Sean Gilpin exchanged wedding vows in the presence of family and friends. It was a day for new beginnings and celebration – not only for a special couple in Canada but also for 15 very needy children in Africa.A brief reception followed the ceremony and then the guests were invited to enjoy a sumptuous dinner. Each beautifully appointed table contained a magnificent floral centerpiece and a picture of an African child. These pictures represented a very unique expression of love. Each of the children in the pictures had received a bedkit as a result of the generosity of Meghann and Sean. For the very first time these children would experience the joy of a peaceful night’s sleep on a proper mattress.
Leslie Banner speaks passionately about SLEEPING CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD. In June, she was part of a team that distributed 6,000 bedkits in Uganda. Fifteen of these bedkits were presented to children in recognition of the special vows that were to be exchanged by Meghann and Sean. This was Leslie’s 6th distribution trip to this Central African country. In that period of time she has personally touched the lives of 35,000 children. She has seen a beautiful country that is burdened by poverty and disease. She understands the ravages of HIV/AIDS. She also understands the true expression of love when a child receives a bedkit because someone made a donation of $30.00. She has developed a profound affection for Uganda – particularly for the children whose lives have been changed with the receipt of a bedkit.
SLEEPING CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD was registered as a Canadian Charity in 1970 by Mr. Murray Dryden and his wife Margaret, parents of legendary hockey stars Dave and Ken Dryden. This Charity prides itself in the fact that every penny of each donation is spent on the contents of a bedkit. Volunteers who travel on behalf of this unique Charity pay their own expenses! Recently the Toronto Star listed SLEEPING CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD as one of the top five charities in Canada!The bedkits distributed in Uganda contained items of bedding intended to ensure that each child would experience a safe and peaceful night’s sleep. This included such things as:
- mosquito net
- mattress
- blanket
- towel
- bed sheets
- t-shirt/shorts or skirt
For more information please contact Tamara Kaftalovich, Consultant, Maverick Public Relations Inc. @ 416-640-5525 ext. 234.
Also available for as a PDF file via download.
