Sleep Train Asks Community to Help Give Foster Kids Sweet Dreams

SACRAMENTO, CA, January 02, 2011 (Press-News.org) Bumps in the night, spooky shadows and eerie sounds can make falling asleep hard enough for children, but for foster kids it can be especially difficult when in a new, unfamiliar environment. Sleep Train (www.sleeptrain.com), an employee-owned company and the number one bedding specialist on the West Coast, is trying to ease a little of that nighttime anxiety with its drive to collect snugly new pajamas for foster children.

"Each year after this drive, our foster children are so excited to get their new pajamas they can't wait to rush home, put them on and get ready for bed," said Ursula DeVere, executive director at Families for Children. "Come morning, some even have a hard time getting out of bed and off to school in time because they're so cozy in their new PJs!"

What kind of Pajamas you ask? Here's a quick poll of favorites:
1. Soft and cozy pajamas - comfort is crucial.
2. Style Counts. Think outside the norm of plaid pajamas or pink for girls and blue for boys. Find some with a little flair.
3. And finally, where these pajamas come from is especially important. Not the store from which they were bought, but that someone cared enough to purchase and donate them - that's you!

"Every parent wants their child to sleep soundly and have pleasant dreams, and for foster parents, this is especially true as they welcome a child who has been displaced into a new home," said Terry Horsley, vice president of brand strategy for Sleep Train. "Something as simple as new pair of pajamas can help make the transition a little easier, giving these children a sense of comfort in their new foster homes."

Sleep Train's Pajama Drive for Foster Kids begins January 3, 2011 and continues through February 20, 2011. Seeking new pajamas in all sizes, this drive is part of an ongoing effort to provide foster children with items their foster families might not be able to afford. The donated pajamas are distributed among Sleep Train's nineteen regional foster care partners who provide support to the 80,000 foster children and their families in California.

Sleep Train also encourages businesses and community groups to host their own pajama drive with a step-by-step guide at http://www.sleeptrain.com/hostadrive. Don't have time to shop for PJs? No problem! Go to sleeptrain.com and donate online via PayPal and we'll do the shopping for you! For more information on the Sleep Train Foster Kids program or to find the closest store to make a donation, please visit http://www.sleeptrain.com or call 1-800-378-BEDS. Store hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

About Sleep Train
Celebrating its 25th year in business, award-winning Sleep Train Mattress Centers, an employee-owned company, is ranked the #1 bedding specialist on the West Coast. Sleep Train offers customers superior service by professional and knowledgeable sleep consultants and the best selection of famous brands, such as Simmons Beautyrest , Sealy Posturepedic , Tempur-Pedic , Stearns & Foster, and the Vera Wang Collection by Serta , at the guaranteed lowest prices. Sleep Train's award-winning Foster Kids program actively contributes to its community through ongoing donation drives that benefit the area's nearly 80,000 foster children. With more than 80 retail locations throughout California, Sleep Train is Your Ticket to a Better Night's Sleep . For more information, please visit http://www.sleeptrain.com or call 1-800-378-BEDS.

Media Contacts:
Revolution PR for Sleep Train
Jennifer Karkar Ritchie
(206) 932-2454 | jennifer@revolutionpr.com
Or
Aaron Hilst
(206) 355-3506 | aaron@revolutionpr.com