MANSFIElD — Johnny Matthes and his wife met Kimberly Yeager during a Miss Ohio program in Ashland.
The couple served as directors for Miss Ohio and noticed Yeager was running with a platform of domestic violence awareness. Using her talent as a ventriloquist, Yeager would speak at events. Eventually, the Matthes’ went to the Richland County Domestic Violence Shelter when she was volunteering.
“It’s unbelievable how many people — men, women and children — are affected by one act of violence. Sometimes they have to leave without shoes because they’re scared because he’s waving a gun.”
Raising awareness of such scenarios is the goal at the third annual Great Sleep-Out Against Domestic Violence. The event is set for Thursday, Sept. 1, at Johnny’s Mattress and Furniture Superstore.
This year they are hoping to raise $50,000 with the help of a Federal Matching Funds grant congress passed this year for domestic violence shelters. Last year the event raised $25,000.
The event will begin at 5 p.m. in the store’s parking lot and will end when only one team remains awake.
Seven queen-sized mattresses will be held under a 60-foot tent where teams will try to outlast contestants to stay awake.
”Last year the contest lasted 63 hours,” he added.
The next night, Friday, from 4 p.m. to midnight, Johnny’s Mattress and Furniture Superstore will host a Midnight Cruise In.
“We hope to have about 100 cars,” he said. “That’s about all my lot can hold, but who knows?”
Johnny said to get into the car show, a donation will be asked with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to the shelter.
There will also be food vendors donating some of their proceeds to the shelter as well.
“If you don’t have a classic car, come visit our food vendors, Matthes said. “We hope you’ll come out and have a rack of ribs and donate money.”
