by Maria Pilar Clark

Sleep is like Superman’s kryptonite - it gives bodies and brains a chance to renew, regroup and recharge their energy.

But, with more homeless children in the U.S. than any other time since the Great Depression, chances are that the youngest members of transient families, who might be living in cars or motels, aren’t exactly catching their full 40 winks.

Those kinds of environmental factors negatively influence children’s development, leading to an increase in mental health problems like anxiety, depression, poor sleep habits and behavioral issues.

To ease the stress of shelter living, Project Night Night distributes more than 25,000 baby blankies, stuffed animals and age-appropriate books in their like-named Night Night Packages to homeless children ages 0-10 every year. The care packages are free of charge and help little ones feel secure, cozy and ready to learn.

Get involved by hosting an event, sponsoring a package or starting a corporate program.