Sleep in Heavenly Peace is gathering volunteers following their largest bed build ever, this time to deliver beds to children in need.
Volunteers showed up Saturday at the Black River Coliseum with the goal of constructing 125 beds for children in need. The goal was in honor of the Coliseum’s 25th anniversary.
“Saturday was amazing. Nothing short of amazing. It went better than we had hoped. We built 150 beds, where we had planned to build 125. Folks came out and everything just ran smooth,” shared organizer Dave Elledge.
Elledge said SHP will be working over the next week or so to determine delivery dates for the beds. Those dates will be released by the group, along with an additional opportunity for volunteers to help.
Saturday’s event was a 13-hour day for SHP, with started setting up around 4 a.m. at the Coliseum. More than 150 volunteers came out and were organized in rotating crews, divided by task. Some groups sanded boards for the beds, while others assembled headboards and other pieces.
About 75% of volunteers were helping SHP for the first time.
“I would estimate that easily 75% of the people who came on Saturday were first-timers, which was pretty cool,” Elledge said.
Prior to this, the group’s largest build day allowed them to complete 50 beds.
The group has seen such a great need for the beds, but they had stopped accepting new names a couple of months ago because of a shortage of supply. This bed build allows the group to serve children on their waiting list, Elledge said.
“I know it will fill back up again,” he said.
SHP thanked Butler County Emergency Management Agency Director Robbie Myers for helping line up sponsors and more behind the scenes, as well as Coliseum Director Greg Smith and his staff for their help.
“This was a great way to celebrate and give back to kids,” Myers said, speaking to volunteers Saturday. “You are champions for kids today.”
Anyone who wants to volunteer can reach out to SHP through the group’s Facebook page, Elledge said.
“We are also looking for a warehouse or something where we can store stuff,” he added. “Right now, we’re storing it at our church (The Bluff Church) and that area is in the process of being remodeled. We’re going to have to find a new home for all of the beds and bedding.”