Spotlight on Non-Profit

Bedless Children Served Through Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Bedtime. Cozy thoughts of fresh sheets and fluffy pillows, a cuddly blanket, dimmed lights. A bed. A quiet, soft retreat for reading, napping, listening to music, daydreaming and, most important, to get a full night of restorative sleep. That’s what every child deserves. But many are not so fortunate. Based on Troup County’s population and rate of poverty, it is estimated that 2,000 children sleep on the floor, on a pile of clothes or a sofa, according to Greg Watts, chapter president of the LaGrange Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP). “We are an organization that builds and delivers beds to children in this community who do not have a bed. Our motto is "no kid sleeps on the floor in our town!,” said Watts. SHP was founded on the philosophy that a bed is a basic need for children for their proper physical, emotional and mental support. Without proper rest, a child’s happiness and health are at risk. Warren Temple United Methodist Church, First United Methodist Church and LaGrange High’s Leadership students spent a noisy September afternoon surrounded by sawdust as they built 30 beds. Money was raised to purchase mattresses, sheets, pillows and comforters for these new beds.

The cost to provide a child with an all new bed frame, mattresses, sheets, comforter, and pillow is about $165. Watts noted that because SHP is a 100% volunteer organization, all the funds collected for the LaGrange chapter stay here to purchase materials and bedding.

“Oftentimes, we take many of our possessions and comforts for granted. Helping build beds for those less fortunate in our community put this into perspective and is an experience we will never forget,” said Warren Temple’s Pastor Carl Von Epps.

The children of First Methodist and their parents made throw pillows for the beds with a red felt heart inserted in each pillow with a message of love.

Build Days are meant for communities to come together to serve and provide a solution for a community problem. Watts encourages kids, adults, families, co-workers, neighborhoods, community groups, churches, organizations, businesses, and schools to sponsor or participate in a build day.

The most rewarding aspect of the program is the day the beds are delivered to the bedless children. Volunteers are met with tears of joy, feelings of being overwhelmed and smiles galore.

Watts’ involvement in SHP grew from his work as part of a team of men who were doing handyman repairs for families in need. “It was very rewarding to give back in a physical way to those who could not help themselves,” he said.

He then watched a program called "Returning the Favor" with Mike Rowe.

Rowe goes around finding "bloody do gooders", people who do good things for others just because it's the right thing to do.

Watts watched an episode that featured the founder of SHP, Luke Mickelson, from Kimberly, Idaho. He and his friends were building beds for children sleeping on the floor in his community of about 2,600 people. Four years later and Mickelson’s team still had not met all the needs.

“It struck me that if they had that kind of need in a small town like that, surely we have a need here. I asked the guys in our handyman group if they thought we could really do this in LaGrange, and it was a unanimous yes,” Watts said. Just a few months later, a chapter was organized and beds were being built.

For more information contact Watts at greg.watts@shpbeds.org.