With a growing waiting list of children in need, Sleep in Heavenly Peace hosted a bed-building workshop at the Bluff Church Saturday. Dave Elledge, chapter co-president and pastor of the church, was impressed by the attendance.
Announced on social media only a week before the event itself, 35 people signed up to come.
“There’s folks from all over town here,” Elledge said at the build. Over half were first-time volunteers.
“It’s been really tremendous to see the interest and support from the community,” he added.
Lowe’s, the corporate sponsor, provided an in-store credit for tools and lumber. Elledge said many of the tools were also donated.
Volunteers processed the wood in an assembly line as it was cut, sanded, drilled and ultimately branded with the logo of SIHP. First-timer Mike Allen brought his family to help at the event.
“We’ve always wanted to do this,” he recalled.
Allen leads a Sunday evening small group. He hoped to bring his regular attendees to SIHP’s next event in August.
“Don’t hesitate,” Allen told prospective volunteers.
While Elledge hoped to build 30 beds at Saturday’s event, he described a large, underserved need. Currently, the local chapter of SIHP has 300 children on its waiting list for a bed.
At the organization’s Aug. 10 event at the Black River Coliseum, Elledge intends to exceed 100 beds built in a day. To accomplish this feat, volunteers will work in two- and three-hour shifts.
Elledge said he often sees helpers getting more out of the experience than the work they put in.
“I think they’ll be blessed,” he said of the future volunteers.
The August event is part of the BRC’s 25th anniversary celebration. Missouri Highlands Healthcare is sponsoring the event and will provide barbecue and other food.