MANSFIELD, Ohio – Johnny’s Mattress and Furniture Superstore in Mansfield held the ‘Great Sleep-Out against Domestic Violence’ over Labor Day weekend to help fight domestic violence. The sleep-out reached its finale Monday when the last participant “tapped out,” Owner John Matthes said.
The winner was Edith Gilliland, representing Richland County Children Services. She fell asleep at 7:10 a.m. Monday Sept. 7 after 62 hours,10 minutes. She took the title for most funds raised with $7,397.
“Jeff Fellure, representing the Richland County Sheriff Department, was still in the process of raising money and he stayed with it until 8 a.m., for a total of 63 hours on the mattress,” Matthes said. “He took the title for the sheriff department for the second year in a row, setting a new record.”
“I’ve got an Xbox, movies, Wi-Fi for my iPhone and sheer determination from the department,” Fellure said Friday. “No energy drinks, just pure, organic sugars for me.”
Both participants received a plaque, a new Kindle and Fellure received a “Chef’s Table Dinner for 6” from Ed Pickens.
The objective was to raise as much money as possible before a person on each team falls into a deep slumber on one of the mattresses provided by Johnny’s. The last person awake would win and end the fundraiser.
Nine teams participated this year, four more than last year. Each team designated one person to stay awake.
According to Store Manager Bob Loyd, last year’s winner, from the Richland County Sheriff Department, stayed awake from Thursday evening, until 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, a total of 34 hours. The event raised $18,000 last year, 100 percent of which went directly to The Domestic Violence Shelter Inc.
The Mansfield Police Department won loast year in fundraising. According to Chief Ken Coontz, the department raised over $6,000.
This year, the fundraiser’s goal is to raise $25,000. All of the money raised will be used locally.
“Our total so far is $24,246 but we are still raising funds for the remainder of the week,” said Matthes.
In addition to a space for participants of the sleep-out, the store’s parking lot served as a drop-off point for canned food items and dried goods for the shelter’s food pantry.
There are 30 families currently benefiting from services provided by The Domestic Violence Shelter Inc, according to Executive Director Katherine Ezawa.
The Domestic Violence Shelter is a nonprofit organization, so they rely on fundraisers to maintain operation said Ezawa.
“They are one of the few [nonprofit organizations] that aren’t top heavy with big salaries. They treat local people; the money raised and used stays in Richland County,” said Matthes on Friday. And Matthes stressed the importance of the shelter’s work in Richland County.
“They are treating way more people every year,” said Matthes.
Ezawa said the shelter sees about a 15 to 20 percent increase in families helped each year. She attributes that to awareness that the shelter exists in Richland County. “Most places it’s really hard to reach out,” said Ezawa.
At Friday’s opening for the event, Mansfield Police Domestic Violence Investigator Matt Loughman said domestic violence cases are on the rise.
“I’ve been here about two and a half years and it seems like each year we see more and more cases. But we have an amazing shelter and they do so much for victims – not just give them a bed to sleep on,” said Loughman at Friday’s event launch.
Those additional services include a 24-hour crisis hotline, youth advocacy programs, outreach programs, a sexual response team, and family and legal advocacy.
To bolster excitement for the event, there was also a dessert auction, three food vendors and a car show in Johnny’s Mattress and Furniture Superstore’s parking lot.
The nine teams that participated in the event include the Mansfield Police Department, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Mansfield City Schools Key Club, Richland County Prosecutor’s Office, the Domestic Violence Shelter, Richland County Children Services, the Committee to Elect Gary Bishop and OhioHealth MedCentral Forensic Department.
“Our thanks to the participants and their sponsoring agencies, the car show participants, the bakers for the dessert and pastry auction and the food vendors who served up delicious food during the event and especially to the community for their support. Our goal is within eyesight,” Matthes concluded.
