“Your Barefoot Neighbor” launches Beds for a Year fundraiser for foster children

TikTok star Matthew Bounds, or as many know him as “Your Barefoot Neighbor”, is hoping to unite the coastal community and his 1.5 million followers to buy 2,000 beds for children in foster care.

At Elijah’s Closet, they give out nearly 200 beds a month to children in the foster care system. Between families being displaced and children entering into new foster homes, the need is never-ending.

Nikki Williams, with Elijah’s closet, tells us where these beds are going.

“A foster parent may reach out and they’re taking in siblings,” Williams said. “They need a bunk bed or two twin beds. You know they may have only had a crib on hand at the time or we really focus on prevention. These could be parents who are coming out of homelessness. These could be parents who are coming out of addiction. These could be parents who are coming out of a domestic violence shelter. It’s just a conglomerate of things.”

Williams says many children are at risk of being removed and have loving families who just need a support system.

“CPS requirement is that a child has to have a bed,” She said. “It has to be up off the floor. So, if we’re able to provide a bed for a family, that immediately eliminates them being removed from the home.”

Providing beds is the organization’s biggest community need, but it is also the costliest. In a year, Elijah’s closet will spend half a million on beds and bedding alone.

Matthew Bounds wants to eliminate that cost this year.

“From September 1st to the 14th, we’re going to post a Wishlist publicly where anyone can hop in and order a mattress, a set of pillows, or some sheets,” Bounds said. “Whatever you feel like you want to contribute, and they will all come right here to Elijah’s closet.”

Bounds is pledging his August creator fund earnings and a percentage of sales from his new cookbook and merchandise towards the Wishlist.

His goal is for the coast to rally behind Elijah’s closet and the children they serve.

“It is social media at its highest purpose,” he said. “I mean, really, it is the highest use of my platform that I can think of. I can make all the money in the world and have all the eyeballs on me that I want, but to me, it means a lot if I can put it to work, especially right here at home.”

For more information about the fundraiser or sponsoring a bed, click here.