Wish List: Donations help woman buy twin beds for her kids

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By Doug Schorpp | Thursday, January 17, 2008 1:10 AM CST | () comments

eva Goerdt shops for beds for her twins, Ava and Avantraye, at the Mattress Outlet in Davenport. Donations to Wish List Quad-Cities paid for the items. Buy this Photo

VIDEO: Wish List: Reva Goerdt
Wish List participant Reva Goerdt shops for beds for her two little childre…
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In the end, Reva Goerdt selected the twin bed mattresses that cost about

$50 more, but likely will last a lot longer.

That’s good because the

18-year-old from Davenport has twin 18-month-olds who are full of energy.

Goerdt was among those selected to participate in the ninth annual Wish List Quad-Cities, which grants wishes to area people in need. She was nominated by Colleen Willman, supportive service specialist for Safer Foundation, who met Goerdt three years ago when she went through the agency’s Youth Empowerment Program. It was through that program that Goerdt obtained her GED.

And Willman accompanied Goerdt to Mattress Outlet in Davenport this week to select the twin beds and then on to another store to purchase bedding and pillows for the twins — daughter Ava and son Avantraye.

Goerdt dropped out of high school but had obtained her GED before she became

pregnant. She delivered the premature babies in June 2006. Now she has a job and is taking classes at Kaplan University with a goal to become a medical assistant. Willman said she took GED preparation classes, life skills and did community service work.

But her biggest need was to get two twin beds because the twins have outgrown their cribs and have been sleeping every night with Mom.

As they shopped for beds at Mattress Outlet, manager Scott Wendland learned what was going on and casually jumped in to help. “Where do you live, Davenport? I will give you free delivery. That will save you about

$50,” he said.

That made her decision easier to purchase the beds that cost a bit more, but will last longer.

“This is good for Reva,” Willman said. “The kids are getting a little bit older and having their own bed and bedding will give her some privacy.

“I think she deserves it. She deserves a break, to have her own space. She will feel better. Reva works really hard, and this is something extra to help her out.”

“They are one-and-a-half and it’s time everybody has their own space,” Goerdt said.

Having them sleep with her means getting a lot less sleep than a young mom needs.

“It’s uncomfortable. It’s annoying at times,” she said. “They get up in the middle of the night. If they had their own beds, it would be easier. They probably will jump all over the beds when they get them.”

As the two women waited for Wendland to ring up the order, they glanced at mattress covers, or protectors, another much-needed item for toddlers. Thinking they might be able to find less expensive ones elsewhere and trying to figure out how much of the funds will be left for pillows, a comforter, sheets and blankets, Wendland again surprised them.

“I’m going ahead and donate two of the mattress protectors. You can take them with you now,” he said.

Taking it all in, the quiet mother reflected on all the generosity.

“It is really helpful. I appreciate it a lot,” she said.

Wish List: How it works

This year, Wish List Quad-Cities raised $16,795 and helped 34 families.

In the fall, United Way of the Quad-Cities Area and its local agencies nominated several dozen people who would benefit from the kindness and monetary donations of Quad-City Times readers.

On Thanksgiving weekend, the newspaper wrote about nine

Wish List nominees and now is revisiting some of them as their

much-needed requests are filled.

Doug Schorpp can be contacted at (563) 383-2292 or dschorpp@qctimes.com.

Comment on this story at qctimes.com.