Local business gives away free mattresses for flood victims

A Calgary funeral home was on a mission Saturday morning to helpflood victimssleep a little easier tonight.

Those who lost their beds in the flood were able to pick up a new one, free of charge, at the McInnis & Holloway funeral home on Elbow Drive. The company struck a deal with Sleep Country and bought 75 mattresses to give awayto flood victims.

• Calgary floods: What you need to know now

"One of our staff members had a bed and put it on Kijiji and had hundreds and hundreds of responses in a verybrief time," saidowner Ernie Hagel."So we analyzed it and said, 'that's something that everyone can use, nothing's worse than not having a place to lay your head at night.'"

Staff sent the news out to friends and relatives and listed the giveaway on Kijiji.

Word spread quickly and people came from communities across southern Alberta in hopes of collecting a mattress.

"Our basement is totally submerged," said Mark Brown, a High River resident. "Both our daughters live in the basement so their beds are gone. This will certainly help replace what's there whenever we can get in."

"It's greatly appreciated," he added.

With residents in many flood-ravaged communitiesbeginning to assess damage to their homes,there will no doubt be many more left struggling to replace the things they've lost.

The opportunity to help is one Hagel says his company owed to the community.

"We wanted to do something ... it's just part of being a good corporate citizen," said Hagel."The Calgarycommunity has supported us extremely well over the years."