Beach Realtor helps through Bedz for Kidz
Beach Realtor Cynthia Shafer and her husband John have been involved with Voices For Kids of Southwest Florida, Inc. for a long time. It is a program whose mission is to ensure every abused, neglected and abandoned child in the five surrounding Southwest Florida counties has a Guardian ad Litem volunteer to advocate for their best interests in court, the child welfare system and the community and available financial assistance and resources for their health, educational and social needs.
The Shafers were recently presented an Outstanding Service Award at the nonprofit agency’s Voices of the Night Masquerade Ball and Live Auction. The plaque was in recognition of “exceptional leadership, exemplary service and tireless devotion” to Bedz for Kidz, a Voices For Kids branch-off program which the Shafers began in 2001.
“I’ve been really honored about everything we received, because it makes it more known to everyone in the public” said Cynthia. “When something is put in the paper or you get a plaque in front of a lot of people, all of a sudden more people know that there are abused children and that kids don’t have beds.”
Shafer said that she and her husband started the Bedz for Kidz program to provide a bed for any child in foster care, but had to change it to any child in foster care who has a guardian.
“Because of the recent economy, we are unable to provide for all foster kids.
Generally, we don’t turn down any child that someone asks us to help, but we’re trying to limit it to any child who has a guardian in foster care,” said Cynthia.
Their Saturdays are spent delivering multiple beds to other homes of guardians who have filled out the required request forms during the week.
“Last year, we supplied more than 169 beds for kids,” she said. “We buy twin beds, cribs, toddler beds, bunk beds and double and queen beds depending on the size and needs of the children. My husband and I (and her sister, Donna Garvey) set up the bed or crib, supply sheets and a new pillow and blankets, then place a stuffed animal on the pillow.”
Besides the masquerade ball fundraiser and auction, the Shafers receive donations (either money, new beds, sheets, furniture or other items such as books) and help from other Realtors (such as the ones from Lahaina Realty where she is a member of the Real Estate team); Jerry’s Tire (discounted use of the U-Haul rental trucks); Beach Realtors Karen and Tom Swanbeck (use of their moving truck); Beach Kiwanis; Fort Myers Beach Goodwill; Carousel Consignment Shop in Fort Myers; Price Cutters in North Fort Myers; Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach; toothbrushes from her dentist; and organizations from outside counties… to name a few. There are other auctions with other organizations for the cause throughout the year.
“I am community of ‘me’s, and I am honored,” Cynthia said. “Without Karen and Tom, without my broker Paula Kiker or the Realtors Association and all that everybody does, it would be difficult to do these things. All those who donate, pat yourselves on the back so we can bring smiles to the children of our community.”
Shafer, a professional Realtor in Southwest Florida since 1993 and a member of the board of directors for the local chapter of Voices for Kids program, has volunteered as a Guardian ad Litem for Florida’s 20th Judicial Circuit for the last 16 years representing the abused, abandoned and neglected children in Lee County and continues to fight for their rights.
“The first auction we had on Fort Myers Beach, we raised about $10,000 for The Guardian program (Voices For Kids original name). I can’t say more things about the people who do things for their community. Because of that I am a better me,” she said.
Voices for Kids recruits and supports Guardian ad Litem volunteers, who not only provide advocacy for children and a voice in their own future, but also stay with the child until he/she has a safe, permanent family-and is out of foster care. The organization believes foster children deserve to live as normal a life as possible while they are in foster care and provides children’s programs and supports children’s special needs not provided by any other funding source.
Bedz for Kidz aids in that philosophy by making sure the guardian child has a proper bed, bedding supplies, furniture or whatever else that may be requested.
“As a guardian who visits families, I’ve noticed that grandparents are getting their grandchildren more and more through caregivers because a lot of their own children (are unable to provide for them),” said Shafer. “But, a lot of grandparents are on fixed incomes, so if they cannot afford a bed, then their grandchild goes into foster care and they have to fight for them in court. It takes six months up to a year (for the process) or until they can afford a bed.”
Due to the Department of Children & Families statement that says every child has to have their own bed, the Shafers decided to take action.
“The first case I ran into I told the lady to please tell DCF that you want your grandchild by 5 p.m. that afternoon, and I went home and took a twin bed out of my spare room and brought it to the grandmother,” said Cynthia. “From then on, we’ve helped thousands of children. Every Saturday, we deliver anywhere from 1 to 20 beds in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. Some Saturdays, we drive more than 400 miles.”
Shafer likes to refer to the movie “Blind Side” to tell the story of children without beds. They call her the ‘bed lady,’ and some have requested other furniture with lamps to take away from the sterile environment with white sheets and bright, overhead lights.
“Last year, a child called me and asked for a big bed and a lamp that he could turn on,” she said. “We brought him a double bed, two end tables, two lamps and a dresser. After that, his whole concern was to give his twin bed to someone else.”
Due to the recent bed bug problem, Bedz for Kidz doesn’t accept used beds anymore. Although funding for this program and availability of supplies may be limited at times, the Shafers find a way to help out as many children in need as possible. “It’s a great feeling when a child reaches up, grabs your hand and asks, ‘Is this my bed?’ Children sleep with dignity and delight at night,” said Cynthia.
Shafer, who has been working with children since she was a senior in high school, is a past president of the Fort Myers Beach Board of Realtors and past state chapter president of Women’s Council of Realtors. She has collected many accolades during her career such as Realtor of the Year twice, the Good Neighbor Award for the National Association of Realtors in 2002 as well as being named Humanitarian of the Year for the Florida Association of Realtors, the Women’s Council of Realtors and Lee County attorneys and judges.
“It isn’t the honors I hold dear to my heart, it’s the smiles and the hugs from children,” she said. “Some kids ask us not to leave, then they will draw a picture for us and say ‘thank you.’ Some kids even say ‘thanks’ for showing them how to make a bed.”
The busy Saturdays are somewhat of a relief and a just reward for the Bedz for Kidz chairperson and her aides.
“Because of the abuse, neglected and abandoned cases which I receive and represent as a guardian Monday through Friday, I come home and sometimes cry,” said Cynthia. “So Saturday, when I’m delivering beds, the kids are hugging and shaking us. You can get through Monday through Friday, because Saturday makes it all worthwhile.”
If interested in donating to the nonprofit organizations Voice for Kids or Bedz for Kidz, call Cynthia at 850-4388. She can provide pickup of items if needed.