Daily News
From Home Furnishing Business
Kingsdown Purchases Insulin for Western North Carolina
October 9,
2024 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Industry 
In the midst of recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene, leading luxury bedding manufacturer, Kingsdown Inc., purchased more than 100,000 units of insulin to donate to those in need in the devasted region of Western North Carolina.
With most roads and bridges washed away completely, or otherwise impassable, the insulin was delivered by Frank Hood, president and chief executive of the company, piloting his personal plane.
Hood, a native North Carolinian, is joining pilots from across the region who are flying in food, toiletries and medical supplies via Operation AirDrop, a Texas-based organization that provides relief following natural disasters.
“We are very happy to play a small role in helping our neighbors. I am grateful I could personally participate in the larger effort of all those helping people in areas deeply affected by Hurricane Helene,” said Hood. “In addition to the insulin, our employees and the company bought and donated other relief supplies and nonperishable foods and blankets that were delivered to relief locations.”
Kingsdown is the 120-year-old product of visionaries in rural Mebane, North Carolina, and has grown into one of the world’s largest mattress producers, largely because of its dedicated workforce, inspired and empowered by the company’s leadership. While Kingsdown has certainly excelled in areas like product innovation and quality control, its real secret to success lies in its investment in people and communities.
“When employees ask for community investment, we believe in responding generously,” Hood said. “We are invested in being good corporate neighbors, because that is a key factor in what has made Kingsdown a special company and special place to work for generations.”
Like the recent deliveries, a prime example of this commitment is a new national program Kingsdown is launching in celebration of its 120th anniversary, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Each Kingsdown plant will donate about 200 mattresses, made by the employees themselves, to those in need within their communities.
“This initiative reflects a deep understanding of the importance of a good night’s sleep—both for children to excel in school and for adults to perform effectively at work, and our investment in the communities in which we live and work,” the executive said. “By giving back, we are not just valuing our associates, but the broader communities in which we operate.”