It’s a harsh reality that most of us never consider … some children among us do not have a bed. They sleep on a couch, or the floor, or other makeshift space.
Not having a proper bed affects every aspect of a child’s physical and mental well-being. In Clermont County alone, it’s estimated that 2,000 to 3,000 children are living this way, according to Diane England of the Clermont County chapter of Sleep In Heavenly Peace, a national organization that builds and delivers free twin and bunk beds to 3- to 17-year-olds living without one.
SHP was founded in 2012 by Lucas and Heidi Mickelson of Twin Falls, Idaho, which grew from an experience in their own neighborhood when Lucas learned that a young child living nearby did not have a bed. He couldn’t ignore the situation, so no surprise, he built a bed for that child. Lucas then learned that this situation was far from unique, and naturally led to the couple forming Sleep In Heavenly Peace.
Today, SHP has more than 400 chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada. Our own Clermont County chapter was formed last year by a group of volunteers who previously helped build and deliver beds with the now-defunct Warren County chapter. Among them were Clermont Chapter co-presidents, Tim Stephens and Ron Dunn, and Ron’s wife, Barb.
“At the time with Warren County, we were getting a lot of requests from Clermont County, so it was clear there was a need ... and an opportunity to start a chapter here,” says Barb, who coordinates all parts of this new local chapter’s processes.
Getting a bed for a child — or in some cases, multiple children — begins with filling out an application through a link on SHP’s website or facebook page. All applications go through the National SHP headquarters where they are linked by zip code to the nearest local chapter. For the Clermont County chapter, applications are forwarded to Barb, who gets the ball rolling.
“I contact the applicant to explain how the process works and make sure all the criteria listed on the website have been met,” Barb explains. She also determines if it’s an emergency situation. For instance, if grandparents are suddenly taking in grandchildren but don’t have beds for them, or there’s been a disaster that has displaced the family. Those needs are met as fast as possible. If the need isn’t an emergency, it usually takes 18 to 20 days from application to delivery.
Of course, at the heart of SHP’s mission is bringing people together to help some of the most vulnerable members of the community. So far, the Clermont chapter has held a dozen “builds.” And since last September, SHP has already delivered more than 200 beds to families throughout Clermont County.
Twin and bunk bed designs are based on the same model used by all chapters. Each bed only costs $250, which includes construction materials and bedding. Impressively, SHP beds are all paid for through donations and sponsorships.
Often, a church, company, or organization covers the entire cost of building and outfitting a pre-determined number of beds and supplies for volunteers to then build them. “Sometimes, a sponsor will pay for the components of the bed, and we cover the cost of the mattresses and bedding,” Ron says. Opportunities to contribute are fluid — some sponsors only supply volunteers while others prefer to just pay for materials. For building events open to the public, SHP will post a blast on facebook asking for volunteers when a build is scheduled.
Most of the builds take place in nearby Owensville in a warehouse owned by SHP core team member, Greg Wolffram. “He’s been our biggest blessing,” Ron shares. “Greg not only donates space for the build, but stores the completed bed components as well as the mattresses until they’re delivered.” Another business next door donates storage space for bedding.
All construction materials, including lumber, are purchased at a discount from Lowe’s. “Once a sponsor approaches us and tells us how many beds they want to build, we calculate the cost and put in the order,” Ron explains. Mattresses and bedding are usually ordered online from Amazon or Walmart.
On build day, SHP core team members arrive several hours early to precut lumber and set up a production line to build the headboards, footboards, and mattress slats. “The precutting of the wood to spec allows volunteers to come in and immediately get to work sanding and drilling holes,” Ron says. Although volunteers must be at least 14 years old to operate some tools, kids as young as 11 or 12 help, too, often serving as runners between the different work stations.
Diane, Ron, and Barb all stress that no construction experience is necessary. Core team members and experienced volunteers explain all the different stages of the construction process, circulating throughout each build day to ensure volunteers are comfortable doing their tasks and completing them correctly.
Despite the heartbreaking situations that the delivery team sometimes encounters in a home, the payoff for volunteers is in the smiles on the kids’ faces when they see the assembled bed — knowing it now belongs to them.
Diane recalls one 12-year-old boy whose bed was delivered in the middle of the day. “He wanted to go to bed the moment it was put together and the sheets and comforter were in place,” she says. “He told us it was the first time he’d ever had a bed.”
Ron and co-president Tim often speak to local groups about Sleep In Heavenly Peace, and the difference it has made in so many young lives. “I always get the same response,” Ron says “They immediately ask, ‘How can I help?’”
And with every follow-through is the knowledge that the decision to help was a life-changer, for both these kids and themselves.
SHPbed.org | Facebook.com/SHPClermontCo | 844.432.2337 ext 5613
GET INVOLVED
There are several ways to lend your time, skills, and contributions to the mission of Sleep in Heavenly Peace — to help this unique organization achieve its goal of “No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town.”
- Participate in a build, constructing the pieces for easy-to-assemble twin and bunk beds. No construction experience is necessary (and SHP supplies all tools). Simply check the chapter’s facebook page for the next scheduled build date.
- Encourage your community, church, or company to help sponsor or participate in a build.
- Make a direct financial donation — or buy gift cards from Lowe’s, Amazon, and Walmart so the chapter can buy construction materials, mattresses, and bedding.
- Have more questions about others ways to support our local chapter? Contact Clermont County SHP co-president Ron Dunn at ron.dunn@shpbeds.org to learn more.