Local Mattress Firm Hosts Car Show to Raise Donations for Foster Kids

SAN ANGELO, TX- Mattress Firm of San Angelo will host a car show event on Saturday, Dec. 10, to help raise toy donations for foster children living in San Angelo.

Destiny Coomer, manager of the Mattress Firm on 4150 Sunset Drive, spoke of the new partnership with the Tickets to Dreams Foundation and why it’s important to help foster families in local communities.

She addressed a misconception of foster families that suggests they can provide all the needs for children like clothing, bedding, food, and other necessities just from the stipend they receive. In reality, it costs a lot more to provide for these needs, so buying toys isn’t a top priority for foster parents, even if they would like to.

The store has hosted various events through the year, including clothing drives, shoe drives and toy drives, to help foster families in Tom Green County this Christmas.

This particular event will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the former Hastings parking lot. It will include a free-to-enter raffle drawing, and free food vouchers will be distributed for use at Freddy’s and Cici's pizza.

One of the main sponsors for the event, Global Apple Repair, has also donated a JBL speaker to be raffled off at the event. Business representatives will also provide coupons for discounts on phone repairs at their store.

The car clubs across San Angelo will come to support the event and help support community activity while also keeping the donations for foster children in mind.   

“We want to make sure we can provide the best Christmas possible for the foster kids,” Coomer said.

Coomer spoke of foster kids who are left with nothing after they age out at 18 from the foster child program.

“When they turn 18, they are stranded,” Coomer said. ”So, a lot of times, we like to emphasize with our guests the importance of even a .25 cent donation. It can help go a long way.”

Gina Davis, president of the Tickets to Dream Foundation, mentioned how important it is to provide “essential” items for foster youths across the nation.

After talking to foster parents, the foundation determined what these items are and how to incorporate them into the donations.

“We feel that by providing these resources up front, [foster children] can gain the self-confidence to help them do better in school,” Davis said.

These donations can help any age range from infancy to adolescents.

When the donations arrive to the store, they are sent out to the Mattress Firm warehouse where Arrow Child & Family Ministries for the Lubbock area will receive the donations and distribute them to foster families around Tom Green County.  

The next collection date will be sent on Dec. 20, so anyone attending the car show is encouraged to bring a toy donation. Organizers of the event can also process any monetary donations as well.