A Place to Lay Their Heads

BY STEPHANIE GIBSON LEPORE

As Carrie Moore explains the work of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, her passion is palpable. It’s clear her heart is fully behind the organization’s mission, and typically that means it’s personal. Sure enough. “[This work] holds a special place in my heart,” she says. “I was one of those kids who didn’t have a bed, so I am passionate about it. I get so much joy out of seeing these kids get a good night’s sleep in a bed of their very own.”

Carrie and her husband, Paul, work with the

Gadsden chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a branch that serves the nine surrounding counties of Etowah, Calhoun, Clay, St. Clair, Cherokee, Dekalb, Marshall, Talladega, and Cleburne. The mission is simple but sobering: Ensure every child in these towns has a safe and comfortable place to sleep at night. For so many of us who have a bed—and have always had a bed—it’s hard to fathom that this is an issue. But Carrie assures that it is: “We take for granted that people have beds. It’s so humbling to see a child jumping up

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 and down like it’s Christmas when they receive a new bed of their very own,” she says, her voice cracking.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace was originally founded in Ohio by Luke Mikelson. According to their website, it began in a garage: “It was Christmastime, a time of joy and happiness, a time of giving and love, but also a time of bitter, cold weather and snowstorms. A project that was started with the build of one bed for a single family developed into something a whole lot more. With wood left over from the first bunk, another idea was created. Who else could benefit from this bunk? A simple post on Facebook sparked an unexpected response. What was thought would be a litter of requests from needy families turned into a litany of local people eager to help and volunteer. The generosity of these volunteers was so surprising that it was no longer a search for one who needed a bed, but a question of how many beds we could provide. From there, the idea grew into reality. We can make a difference.

While so many other charities provide needed assistance through clothing, meals, and toys, there are few organizations that can offer beds and bedding, and Sleep in Heavenly Peace believes that a bed is a basic need for proper physical, emotional, and mental support. When it became obvious that the need was great far outside an Ohio community, the organization began to expand. Besides Gadsden, there are additional chapters in Alabama—two in Birmingham (one serving portions of Jefferson and Shelby counties, another serving Hoover and Bessemer), plus

CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 28

Franklin County, Huntsville, Hartselle, Oneonta, and Shoals—as well as in Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming, and even Canada.

“Our goal is very simple,” says Carrie, reciting the motto. “We make sure no kid sleeps on the floorin in our town by bringing the community together to help provide beds to kids ages 3 to 17.” To start, a family will fill out an application. They may hear about the organization through a school counselor, DHR, word of mouth, or government housing. Sleep in Heavenly Peace then vets applicants by running through a list of requirements; for example, the bed must be in the child’s permanent residence and the organization must verify the child’s current sleeping conditions. Once vetted, a delivery team will get in touch with a family to let them know a bed is coming and when.

“We have Build Days, usually on a Saturday, sponsored by a church or business,” says Carrie. “The bed parts are built and then stored, along with donated bedding and pillows, in a climatecontrolled facility until they are needed.” She notes that the organization’s efficiency means that anyone can help. “We have a core team who sets up tool stations, so it’s super-easy. There is a coordinator who can tell people to go to the drill press or the sanding station. We provide protective gear like shoe covers, gloves, aprons, and safety goggles. I’ve seen a 5-year-old in a Sunday school dress and apron and an 80-yearold both building beds. There is something for everybody to do.” When it comes time to deliver, volunteers retrieve the pieces and head to homes to put together the beds. Since 2011, Lowe’s has supported Sleep in Heavenly Peace by offering discounts on materials and tools, as well as use of five facilities in which to build beds. Lucid Mattress provides the organization with a discount on mattresses, and StorageMart gives back through a partnership as well. PetSmart donates a stuffed animal for each child.

Last month, participants at The Church at Liberty Park’s VBS brought offerings each day to contribute toward a fundraising goal for Sleep in Heavenly Peace. At Church of the Highland’s annual Serve Day on July 15, Trussville residents Keely and Matt Wright will once again sponsor a build day and bedding drive at the Grants Mill location. “It takes between $200 and $225 to provide a bed and bedding to each child. We rely on donations and generosity,” says Carrie. “Every cent is donated.”

The real joy comes the moment Carrie sees a child receive their new bed. “We have experienced nothing but loving kids with parents who are doing a great job,” she says. “The best way to describe a delivery is, if you want to experience true love, go out and do something for somebody who can’t give anything back. Even if we’re tired, if we just do one more delivery, we see those smiles and that excitement, and we can keep going.”

Kids Who Shine Birmingham Promise Scholars

Beginning in 2020, every graduating senior enrolled in Birmingham City Schools has an opportunity to receive financial help for college through the Birmingham Promise Initiative scholarship program. Birmingham Promise scholarships may be used to help pay tuition and mandatory fees at any public two-year or four-year college in the state. Although some colleges have grade requirements that must be met in order to attend, Birmingham Promise does not, and two-year colleges in Alabama have open admission policies—meaning students whose grades are an issue for larger four-year institutions still have an opportunity to receive post-high school education and sharpen and develop marketable skills in college. Whether at a university or community college, Birmingham Promise helps students to overcome financial hurdles so that they can pursue goals and succeed in their future endeavors.

Who

Graduates of Birmingham City Schools who attended a BCS all 12 years are eligible. They must be enrolled in college by the time they graduate from high school. Students who did not attend a BCS all 12 years are eligible for some assistance based on years enrolled in a BCS. Scholarship recipients must maintain full-time student status to receive financial assistance.

What

Birmingham Promise scholarships will help pay for college tuition and mandatory fees for up to four continuous years in Alabama public colleges. Depending on individual circumstances, students may get extra support to help them succeed while enrolled in college. The initiative also offers apprenticeship and internship opportunities, allowing students to learn new skills, gain valuable work experience, and earn a living wage.

Where

Students may receive assistance to attend any public two- or four-year college in Alabama, as long as they meet admission requirements and are accepted at their institution of choice.

How

Birmingham Promise is a partnership between the city and local companies. UAB was the first academic partner to offer support to the program by offering a one-to-one match for scholarships. The Birmingham Promise scholarship has no initial grade requirement, but because some colleges do, this can limit college choices for scholarship recipients. Note: None of Alabama’s two-year colleges have grade requirements, so any Birmingham graduate can pursue higher education at one of these schools with assistance from Birmingham Promise. Once enrolled, students must keep up their grades to stay in school and also to keep receiving the scholarship. Potential recipients must complete a federal financial aid application and fill out the Birmingham Promise application on the website. In 2023, the program received a record number of scholarship applications. Since its launch, Birmingham Promise has provided more than $5 million in tuition assistance to 1,000 Birmingham City School graduates

Read about Birmingham Promise Scholar graduate Destiny Nelson-Miles on page 14. For more information about the program, visit birminghampromise.org.