Mattresses matter
<p>Jeremy Rejniak, right, and Philip Rich, manager of the Sandman Transitional Housing for St. Vincent de Paul, carry one of the 10 new mattresses that were donated by Tempur-Pedic to replace the 15 and 20-year-old mattresses at the housing complex.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - The guests of St. Vincent de Paul's transitional house are about to get a better night's sleep.
The old mattresses in all 11 units of the former Sandman Motel at 1620 Sherman Ave. were replaced with new queen or twin sizes, thanks to a donation by Tempur-Pedic.
"I called enough people and found the right person and then they gave it to me," said Philip Rich, on-site manager.
He said the older mattresses were pretty worn, with some around 20 years old.
One of the mattresses that was hauled outside, said a resident and veteran named Charlie who declined to give his last name, "looked like a swayback mule."
Residents of the temporary housing quarters came out in the rain, wind and cold Monday morning to help deliver the new bedding to each room.
Rich said the new mattresses will be a treat for the veterans who live in all the units.
Each mattress and box spring set was worth about $1,500, he said.
"We really need them," Rich said.