Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services
Published Friday, December 7, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - The Salvation Army shelter received 20 brand new mattresses from a Yellowknife business this week.

"It was a wonderful donation to receive," said Julie Gould-Benreddad, the Salvation Army's director of community services.

Lynn White and her company donated 20 new mattresses to the Salvation Army. - photo courtesy of Bob Bromley

The shelter's old mattresses were at least 15 years old.

Lynn White and her company Whiteworks, a consulting firm, donated to the shelter's foot washing program last year.

This year when White contacted them about making a donation, Gould-Benreddad told her they needed 20 new mattresses.

White said that she did some research and got in touch with an organization that used the types of mattresses that the Salvation Army needed.

"I contacted the suppliers and negotiated a fee with them," said White.

White then had a truck deliver the mattresses, and she also took the old mattresses to the dump.

"For me it's really just doing the right thing," said White. "It's giving back to the community, and for the Salvation Army it's about keeping people safe and warm."

The new mattresses are fire retardant and easy to clean.

"Now all we need are blankets to cover the mattresses," said Gould-Benreddad.

Some of the shelter residents helped install the new mattresses when they arrived.

Gould-Benreddad said that the shelter residents are happy to have new mattresses to sleep on.

She said there are many other generous organizations in Yellowknife that help the Salvation Army throughout the year, and added with Christmas approaching "it's a good time for people to recognize generosity and to support the agencies that are out there making a difference."