Note: 1:GAIN/LOSS ON FOREIGN EXCHANGE: Ci included foreign exchange gain and loss, affecting revenue and expenses by ($2k) in F2023, ($4k) in F2022, and ($8k) in F2021. 2: HST REBATES: Ci removed HST rebates, affecting revenue and expenses by ($nil) in F2023, ($3k) in F2022, and $10k in F2021.

Sleeping Children (SC) has operated since 1970 with a unique structure which ensures that 100% of every bedkit donation goes to bedkit contents. SC’s operating expenses are covered by an endowment set up by the charity's founder, Murray Dryden. Children receiving bedkits are aged 6 to 12, 50% girls and 50% boys living in poverty, who reflect the religious and ethnic diversity in their country. Distributions are done in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Bangladesh, Philippines, India, Sri Lanka and Honduras.

SC partners with overseas organizations like Rotary Clubs, who select the children and buy a mosquito net, sleeping items, clothing, school supplies and other personal items that can best help the children. Every item is sourced locally and many are manufactured, generating economic activity. When bedkits are ready for distribution, volunteers travel overseas at their own expense to deliver the bedkits, and ensure SC Guidelines are followed. Partners must complete a rigorous reporting package and account for all monies spent.

The Covid pandemic severely restricted SC’s operations, as partners were able to distribute only a few thousand bedkits from 2020 through early 2023. Starting March 2023, SC increased the cost of the bedkit to $40 to offset global inflation, and has resumed normal distributions with teams again travelling overseas to deliver bedkits. SC is hoping to achieve annual bedkit distributions starting in 2024 that exceed pre-Covid levels.

SC has helped over 1.7 million children since inception. Decades of experience have demonstrated to our volunteers and partners that bedkits have a significant positive impact on the children, their families and local communities. A key bedkit benefit is to provide a better night’s sleep, which is critical to the child’s health, well being and emotional and educational development. SC volunteers speak with bedkit recipients and their families to get feedback on bedkit items, visit their homes, interview teachers and principals, and tour the cottage industries and factories where bedkit items are sourced. SC is continually looking for ways to better help the children.

SC appreciates and thanks CI for the opportunity to add these comments.