MONROE COUNTY — The Now I Lay Me Down bed ministry is helping to bring gun locks to Monroe County families. Eventually, the ministry also hopes to provide smoke detectors.
The ministry, which began in 2001, provides a free bed and bed accessories to children in need ages 17 and younger. Recently, the ministry partnered with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office to also provide free gun locks to families. Public Act 17 of 2023, which went into effect earlier this year, requires secure storage of firearms in Michigan homes with minors.
“Knowing that Sheriff Troy Goodnough is attempting to provide gun locks to local families, we contacted him for a supply of gun locks," said Kim Hooper, a retired Monroe County Intermediate School District school liaison officer who worked at Bedford Public Schools. Hooper also was the administrative lieutenant to former Monroe Sheriff Charles G. Harrington.
News reports prompted the partnership.
"There was no specific incident that inspired the partnership, other than the everyday news of children getting their hands on unsecured guns,” Hooper said. "The goal of this program is to enhance the Now I Lay Me Down bed program in not only providing beds to local children in need, but to take the program (to another level) in making safer Monroe County homes. The next step would be to find a free supply of smoke detectors for those homes, also."
Last year, the Now I Lay Me Down bed ministry delivered 247 beds to children in every Monroe County school district.
Previous Coverage:Bed ministry helps Monroe County children sleep comfortably
“Over the last 20 years, over 4,200 beds have been given to Monroe County children,” Hooper said.
The ministry's biggest annual fundraiser, Bed Race to Aid Children, is set for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 22 in Loranger Square in downtown Monroe. The goal is $30,000.
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For more information about the Now I Lay Me Down bed ministry, to make a donation, volunteer or to apply for a bed for a child in need, log on to monroebedrace.org or call First Presbyterian Church at 734-242-1545.
Free gun locks are available at: Monroe Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police posts, Flat Rock Police Department, Rockwood Police Department, Woodhaven Police Department and Brownstown Police Department. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services offices also offer free locks.
— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler atswisler@monroenews.com.
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