There's something missing from Morgan Sutton's bedroom.
There's no mattress in her bedroom.
It's believed there may be thousands of other kids in Kansas City just like Sutton.
That's where Monica Starr comes in. A couple of years ago while doing charity work, she met a family and discovered none of the children had a bed to sleep on.
"It was the first time in my life that I had been exposed to someone who didn't have a bed. It blew my mind," Starr said.
Starr decided to do something about it and created Sleepyheadbeds.
"There is a serious problem in Kansas City with people sleeping on the floor; kids sleeping on the floor every single night," she said.
The premise of her charity is simple: those who have a bed and don't want it anymore can notify the charity and Starr and other volunteers will come haul it away.
"I can't believe the beds that come our way. A lot of people are downsizing, so they could be getting rid of a spare bedroom set that never got sat on."
Starr then sanitizes and sterilizes each mattress and box spring.
She said when she began the venture in October, she was prepared for a slow start.
"I was expecting we would make 30 to 40 bed deliveries a month. Just from the United Way's call center, we're getting between three and nine phone calls a day," she said.
After the beds are cleaned, Starr's crew delivers them to those next on the waiting list.
"It's gonna get my kids up off the floor. I'm so excited," Rhonda Sutton said.
And if Rhonda Sutton was excited, her daughter Morgan was even more excited to get a makeover for her room.
"It's pretty cool. It keeps me going all the time. And to see the little kids' faces, how excited they get to have a bed. The way they talk about a used bed being so pretty or the most exciting thing that's happened," Starr said.
There are 170 families on the waiting list. Those interested in receiving a bed can call the United Way's 211 call center. Those who would like to donate a used bed and bedding or make a donation can visit SleepyHeadBeds.org.
Copyright 2012 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) All rights reserved.
