greeNest’s Up Off the Floor Program
In October of 2022, we gave out our 1000th Up Off the Floor bed!
greeNest’s Up Off the Floor Program provides new beds for children in Forsyth County from birth to 18 years. Referrals of families in need are made by the Winston-Salem Forsyth County schools, Head Start and Project Hope. Case managers at these programs identify students, through a home visit, who are sleeping on the floor or do not have a safe sleeping space. As funding allows, greeNest supplies new pack and plays with sheets or twin beds with new bed pillows and bedding at no cost to the family.
greeNest purchases compressed new-in-box mattresses and compact metal platform frames so that families can easily transport the beds without a special vehicle. We offer a selection of different bed-in-a-bag options so children and their parents can select their favorite bedding.
To keep this program running, we rely heavily on individual financial donations. We also accept donations of twin bedding and new bed pillows.
From This....
To This!
Requesting Beds
1. A home visit is required to verify the need.
2. A referral for each family will be made to greeNest by the case manager or a WS/FCS staff member. The referral can include any children in the home that are in need of a bed.
3. Families will be given a copy of the referral to bring with them when they pick up the beds.
Picking Up Beds
1. The family (or person picking up the bed) will need to call greeNest prior to picking up the beds to confirm that beds are available for pick up. greeNest is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am-4pm and every Saturday from 9am-Noon.
2. The beds are very compact and transportable. The mattresses come compressed rolled in a box that is ~ 3'x6"x6" and the metal platform frame does away with the need for box springs and rails. It comes in a 2'x3'x6" box. Bedding and a pillow are provided for every bed. The family will pick out the bedding of their choice for each bed.
3. greeNest will record the name of the person picking up the items, and then notify the school representative that the transaction has been made.
4. greeNest will keep a log of all beds distributed, which includes the name of the school and the school representative, date distributed, name of the family, the number of children impacted.
5. If it is determined that a need no longer exists, the case manager will contact greeNest to cancel the referral, so the beds can be offered to another family.
You can also work with your families to purchase furnishings through our Regular Program. Your school may already be a Partnering Agency. If not, becoming a Partner is easy. Please see the information in the Partner Agency Handbook and contact Loree@greenestws.org with any questions.
