Many of us cannot imagine what it is like to not sleep in a bed. Having your own bed is a source of comfort, peace, stability, security, and love. A good night's rest is so vital to our brain's development, especially to the development of children. It is estimated 3% of children do not sleep in a bed. What would you do if you were to learn, that right here in our own city of Huntsville, children across the city are sleeping on floors, sharing mats with their other siblings, and have no idea what it is like to sleep in a comfortable, safe bed?
Sleep in Heavenly Peace had its start like many other charities, in a garage. It was Christmas time, a time of joy and happiness, a time of giving and love, but also a time of bitter, cold weather and snowstorms. A project, that was started with the build of one bed for a single family developed into something bigger. With the wood left over from the first bunk, another idea surfaced, "Who else could benefit from this bunk?"
Sleep In Heavenly Peace is a volunteer driven nonprofit organization driven to delivering handmade, fully-furnished beds to children in need. SHP's mission is to tackle bedlessness which is estimated at 3% of the population.
The local chapter of SHP in Huntsville began in 2022. Chapter CEO Mary Ena Heath says, "In just over a year Sleep In Heavenly Peace has delivered over 350 beds, and there is currently a waiting list for over 100 beds."
It is a Saturday morning and volunteers gather to do every step of the bed making process. They cure the wood, they drill, they hammer, they put the bunks together, they make up the beds and will deliver to children ready for a good night's sleep.
Many Huntsville companies are sponsoring a 'Build A Bed' as well as local men's and women's groups, bible classes, book clubs.
In 2024, Sleep In Heavenly Peace hopes to partner with high school shop classes to help meet the increasing demands for beds.
Sherika Gaines, a mother who has seen first hand the positive impact of Sleep In Heavenly Peace, says, "When Sleep In Heavenly Peace delivered my children's beds, I'm not gonna lie, I cried. They each got in their bed, all 3 of them, and started squealing, 'This is my bed!'"
Sherika has two 3 year old twin girls and a 9 year old. She continues, "I feel like Sleep In Heavenly Peace is definitely doing God's work. For single mothers like me they give us hope. They restore a piece of our lives." She adds, "It is nice to have a group that genuinely cares about where people are and what they need. It showed me the power of God and gave me hope when I had turned down every other avenue. Sleep In Heavenly Peace reached out willing to help without hesitation."
Sherika now plans to give back herself by volunteering to 'Build A Bed' whenever she can.
If you would like to sponsor a 'Build A Bed', volunteer to help in the building process, or help deliver beds to families, visit https://shpbeds.org/chapter/al-huntsville. You will see future dates for community 'Build A Bed' events and also contact information. Sleep In Heavenly Peace is a 100% volunteer funded organization. All donations stay right here in our community serving Huntsville's children.
Having your own bed is a source of comfort, peace, stability, security, and love. It is estimated 3% of children do not sleep in a bed.