APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Appleton has a surplus of beds the city never ended up using during the pandemic. Tonight the city council will vote on what to do with the mattresses.
The city purchased 200 beds with CARES funding right at the beginning of the pandemic.
“There was a concern our health care system would be overrun with patients needing care,” said Mayor Jake Woodford.
As a result the City of Appleton and health care providers made a plan to take the 200 beds and create an alternate care facility , similar to the one in Milwaukee. It was to be located at the Fox Cities Exhibition Center.
“Fortunately here in the City of Appleton, Fox Cities, we did not reach a point where we had to stand up our own community clinic,” said Woodford.
Instead the Exhibition Center has been a Covid-19 testing site and is now a vaccine clinic. That’s partially thanks to the alternate care facility in Milwaukee. But, now the City of Appleton has 200 beds that can’t be returned.
“My assumption is that’s about the beds being a special ordered item,” said Woodford.
But the City is now calling it a win-win situation. Because the beds were never needed. And with City Council approval tonight, Woffard tells FOX 11 the city hopes to donate them to a WG & R program that connects local groups with beds to give to families in need.
“We’ve been looking for silver linings throughout the pandemic and I think this is definitely one of them.”
The Boys and Girls Club of Fox Valley say programs like this do make a difference in the community and the need is bigger than some people may think.
Katie Van Groll, the Home Base Director with The Boys and Girls Club tells FOX 11…
“we actually had a family call just this week needing mattresses for their children so I think it’s always a need out there.”
The Boys and Girls Club of Fox Family is one of those local groups that works with WG and R Furniture to get beds to families, and a proper sleeping arrangement makes a difference for young children.
“It gives them an overall wellness boost getting a good night’s sleep kind of in their own private space,” said Van Groll.
The City will be refunded $18,000 which is about a quarter of the cost for the bed frames and delivery charges. Since CARES funding was used to purchase the beds, that money will be returned to the federal government.
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