The first organization I chose to volunteer with I found through social media early in the spring. I saw a video posted in one of the Facebook groups I am a part of and I could relate to the need. I had been in homes where children do not have beds. I had seen The Blind Side which portrayed the amazement of Michael Orr when he got his own bed for the first time as a teenager. The sadness portrayed by his new guardian, at learning he had never had a bed before, was humbling to those of us who were born fortunate enough to always have a bed to lie in. This nonprofit highlighted the needs of students in Syracuse and surrounding areas who slept on the floor or couch or who knows where. I decided that volunteering with this organization would be my first organization for my #YearToVolunteer.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) was started in Idaho by Luke Mickelson. He started in his garage building one bed for a child in need. From that one act grew a charity with over 150 chapters in 40+ states. You can learn more about their history and mission at www.shpbeds.org. His mission spoke to me because while I always had a bed to sleep in, I didn’t always have my own. Growing up my siblings and I always had a bed, but for some time we had to share, sometimes three of us in one bed. Today I realize that we were lucky if that was our biggest issue. I also saw poverty and the effects on the children, I spent a lot of time in low income areas observing and interacting with families who struggled to afford the basics for themselves and their children. So these experiences brought me here.
The Set Up
I registered for the #BunksAcrossAmerica event with the Syracuse chapter of SHP. Online sign up indicated a variety of shifts and stations so volunteers could access the opportunity that best fit their skills. Volunteers of all ages and skill levels are welcome. I signed up to help set up and sand for a couple hours on a Saturday morning and signed the online liability form. The facility was a park in a small town outside Syracuse. When I arrived at around 7:30 AM to help setup the park was already laid out in stations. It was clear the setup had been well thought out and planned. Once signed in and equipped with my wristband I went to assist in finishing setup. Moving boards to the right station, going through those cut and sanded by local woodshop students (yeah for woodshop!), checking batteries and power cord placement, stacking sanding paper, etc.
When the first shift started there were about 50 volunteers of various ages and skill levels throughout the park. The first station was cutting lumber to exact sizes for the bunk beds. Followed by the sanding station, then drilling, headboard assembly, bed rail assembly, staining station, branding station and finally packaging. There was safety equipment at every station as well as a station captain to direct and assist. The power tools had extra batteries charging, the fire was started for the branding station, PODS were sitting empty waiting to be filled with bed kits ready for assembly in a child’s room.
We were sanding all the boards to be used in the construction of the bed. Quality checks were done by the station captain along the way to make sure no slivers or sharp edges were visible.
Materials are purchased with donations and donated through a variety of supporting businesses. The national program has a form to fill out online for families to request a bed from over 150 chapters nationwide. Once the local chapter receives a request a delivery is scheduled. Volunteers work in small teams to deliver and help the children, if they want to, assemble their bed. Then the child gets to choose bedding (also donated and constantly in need).
Impact
During the June build over 300 volunteers came together to build 240 beds Syracuse chapter.
Personal View
I loved the feeling of accomplishment and the positive camaraderie throughout the build day. To be able to come together with like minded people was exhilarating! I had several conversations with people I may not have met otherwise and was able to see what it looks like when a diverse group comes together to help children. This well organized, highly needed, opportunity was a great start to my #YearToVolunteer and I have since attended another build and had a chance to see what the impact of delivery of a bed to a child is.
How You Can Help
Visit the national Sleep in Heavenly Peace website to find your local chapter!
Monetary or donation information can be found at the link provided. Here are some ideas of what chapters need:
New twin-sized sheet sets and comforters
Pillows
Wood and other construction material for Build Days
Tools
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