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"No Kid Sleeps on the Floor" Sleep in Heavenly Peace
Sleep in Heavenly Peace
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By Cassie Johnson
Few things beat crawling into a cozy bed. Its comfort at the end of a busy day, a refuge when we’re not feeling well or sick, and a place to rest peacefully and sleep. It might shock you to know that right here in the USA, as many as a million children don’t have a bed of their own. Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) is a national organization founded to address this serious issue.
If you haven’t heard about this organization before, you’re not alone. I found two local SHP chapters – one serving the KenLake area and a new chapter in Paducah. The KenLake Region Chapter serves children ages 3-17 in Calloway, Graves, and Marshall County. Founded just over three years ago the current Chapter President is Julie Morris.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace quite simply makes hand-built beds. Local organizations and families place requests for help and when enough funds are raised a Bed Build takes place. Bedding drives are held to collect new bedspreads, bed-in-a-bag sets, and quilts. Each child receives a brand new bed, furnished with a mattress, sheets, comforter, and pillow. Beds are distributed locally within the zip code region of each local chapter.
Returning the Favor
Julie was inspired by the TV program Returning The Favor, a show featuring individuals doing good deeds in their hometowns. One episode featured SHP and she knew she had to help children in Western Kentucky.
“I melted and cried as I watched the segment, “Julie told me. “I called my brother and asked him can we do this? The SHP motto is No kid sleeps on the floor in our town. To date, our chapter has delivered 579 beds and counting. We could not be more thrilled with our growth.”
The New Paducah Chapter is Led by Rachel Morris.
“I have always had the desire to help others,” said Rachel. “When I learned about SHP, I knew I had to help. My Dad and I, (he is the build manager for our Paducah Chapter), flew to San Antonio for training. We’re still figuring it out as we go, but we have one goal: Give kids a bed who don’t have one,” Rachel told me.
The Paducah Chapter is working hard to raise the necessary funds. Currently, they are about $4,000 away from their goal of doing a community build. Once the goal is reached, bedding application requests and delivery will begin.
Beds for Tornado Victims
SHP is currently running four national disaster campaigns. One of the campaigns benefits those impacted by the tornado that ripped through Mayfield on December 10. SHP KenLake is fulfilling requests as quickly as their inventory supply will allow.
When the KenLake Chapter began, a construction trailer was donated by Journey Church in Murray. With the trailer, volunteers can build frames on location. Julie would like to thank the Lowe’s Home Improvement stores in Murray and Mayfield. Each location has offered their parking lots as building sites and donated supplies. With lumber prices skyrocketing, the generous grants from Lowe’s benefit each of the 280 chapters nationwide.
Area churches can also sponsor Build Days in their parking lots. With volunteers, supplies, and a bit of elbow grease, an assembly line is established and bed frames are cranked out like clockwork.
Next Build Day is February 19!
Monetary donations and helping hands are both needed. If you can’t donate financially, you can still give your time. Volunteers are needed on-site to assist the building process. No construction experience is needed as you will learn from the KenLake core group of 20 trained volunteers throughout the day. All ages are welcome to help. The next build day will be on Saturday, February 19 from 10 am – 2 pm in the parking lot of Lowe’s in Mayfield. All builds from that event will go to children involved in the tornado.
“We had one gentleman who volunteered at 98 years old!" Julie told me. “If you can’t move around easily, stay seated and hand supplies or tools over to those working. Kids as young as six years old have volunteered. Those young, energetic legs are perfect for running lightweight supplies back and forth. Children are more than welcome to help, but an adult must stay present with them.”
My Child Needs a Bed
Applications for beds can be found online at shpbeds.org. The requirements are a safe place to put the bed and to have at least partial custody of the child the bed is going to. Family members or friends can submit forms for another household as long as these two requirements are met. Support from the community means everything. No matter how small or large, every contribution helps. Each chapter has its own Facebook page with links to its donation site. Visit SHP KenLake Region on Facebook, and click on Donate Here. One-time donations help immediately and recurring donations help keep the Chapter functioning.
Want to donate?
Visit these Facebook pages for additional information:
Sleep in Heavenly Peace – KY, Paducah Sleep in Heavenly Peace – KY, KenLake Region
For more information on Sleep in Heavenly Peace, visit shpbeds.org. You can follow SHP KenLake Region and SHP Paducah on Facebook for their latest updates and donation information.
