Wellington organizations, local students build 105 beds for 'Good Knights' program

Over the weekend in Wellington, more than 100 community members from multiple organizations and school districts came together to build beds and raise thousands of dollars for children in need. Those students and community members created 105 beds and raised $50,000 in donations for local children, according to Roger Dorsey, founder and executive director of Good Knights, a local nonprofit organization. "The turnout was great," Dorsey said, adding that it was a "blessing" to see so many children come out from Wellington and LaGrange to help build beds. Dorsey said the beds will more than likely be distributed throughout the county over the next month to families in need. Organizations at the bed-building event in Wellington included the Kiwanis Club of Wellington, the Wellington Eagles and Masonic Lodge No. 127. Terry Mazzone, president of the Kiwanis Club of Wellington, estimated that 125 community members participated in the event — many of whom were students at Wellington and Keystone schools. "All these volunteers are working together for this project," Mazzone said, "to make sure that not only children of families in need have beds for them to sleep in, but to make sure that southern Lorain County becomes more and more aware of this program." Mazzone said that through previous events and donations, $50,000 was raised for the Good Knights program. Mazzone said it was "special" to see so many people and organizations come together for families in need. Dorsey reflected on what the beds and donations will go toward in the program's efforts to help local children. Dorsey himself was one of the children he strives to help. When he was 10 years old, he said, he slept in a closet as he moved to Ohio with his mother as they fled domestic violence. "So to see all areas and corners of the community come together and catch that vision so that we don't have to have any more children sleeping without a proper bed … it warms my heart," Dorsey said. In a statement, Bill Schramm of the Wellington Eagles and Brian Hurst from the Masonic Lodge detailed why the event was important for the community. "The Wellington Eagles supports the build a bed program because we feel strongly about supporting the community and that NO CHILD or SENIOR should be without a bed to sleep in. We stand behind our People Helping People slogan," Schramm stated. Hurst stated that the Masonic Lodge No. 127 "is always looking for an opportunity to make a positive impact in the world. When the Good Knight's bed build project was presented, we believed in their cause and see the positive results they have on local children veterans and seniors. Everyone needs a Good Knight's sleep." Contact Garrett Looker at glooker@chroniclet.com.