At PDI (PDI Kitchen, Bath & Lighting), we support our communities and have fun doing so. PDI jumped in again this year to participate in the fourth annual Family Promise of Gwinnett County’s Bed Race, a charitable event held in Lawrenceville, Ga., that aims to deliver innovative solutions for homelessness. 

Family Promise uses prevention, shelter and stabilization services; it has served more than a million families in its initiative to end homelessness. 

The Gwinnett County sector held its bed race April 22, with incredible raffle prizes and many spectators to support the local chapter of the charity. The PDI Lawrenceville team looks forward each year to the event, where homemade racing beds are created and raced around the Lawrenceville town square, raising money to help those in need. 

The PDI warehouse and branch worked tirelessly over the past year to design and build a memorable and practical entry that would quickly maneuver the streets of downtown Lawrenceville. 

Our team, “The PDI Luminaries,” included David Nation, Blake Davis, David Ball, James Rowland, Kayla Glean, Kyle Blackwell and Ulysses Hernandez. They built and outfitted their racing bed with products we stock and sell from our top brands, including Charlotte Pipe, Spears Mfg., Satco Lighting and Kichler Lighting. 

Learning from the past, the bed construction team took off 200 lb. from last year’s entry, making it faster and more agile. The bed was ready for racing — and so was the crew!

It was a beautiful, sunny day with a light breeze — a perfect day for racing. Ten creatively crafted beds took to the streets for a lively parade before the race. Once at the starting line, the teams soon took off.

As the opening lap ended, racers could track their time and dig into the race. The lighting-based PDI Luminaries team bed took the streets by storm, with the team drifting into the final stretch with ease. 

Although our team finished third place in this year’s race, they are No. 1 in our hearts and minds. We appreciate the PDI family supporting our community and Family Promise of Gwinnett County.