WCC Hosts Sleep in Heavenly Peace Build Day

More than 120 volunteers gathered in the parking lot at Warsaw Community Church April 13 to build beds for children. The event was the first public “build day” for Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an international, volunteer-driven, nonprofit dedicated to building and delivering handmade beds to children in need. SHP’s mission is to tackle childhood “bedlessness,” which is estimated to affect nearly 10 million children in the U.S. — 200,000 in Indiana and 2,000 in Kosciusko County. SHP is the newest nonprofit in Kosciusko County.

Volunteers measured, cut, sanded, drilled, stained and branded wood to create headboards, footboards, side rails and slats for twin-sized bed frames that can also be stacked and made into bunk beds. When the beds are delivered, a mattress and all the bedding (sheets, a pillow and a comforter) are also included.

Becky Kiphart, who serves on staff at WCC as the early childhood program leader, along with her husband, Rory, and brother, Michael Webb, lead the SHP/Kosciusko County Chapter and organized the build day at the church.

“It was amazing to see all the volunteers who came out,” said Becky “Everyone seemed eager to be there. We hoped to build 20 beds, but we ended up with 32, so it was a really good day. I am so thankful to everyone who is supporting SHP, whether it’s by coming out to help on build day or supporting the organization through financial or bedding donations.

“I also want to thank the SHP core team,” Becky continued. “We are surrounded by an incredibly supportive first-line team of volunteers who help coordinate build days. We absolutely could not do it without them.

“WCC sponsored the first community build day, but there are more planned,” Becky added. “Some corporations have expressed interest in hosting and funding a build day, so we are excited about that. In addition to the lumber, we also need mattresses and bedding.”

Families interested in requesting a free bed for children 3 to 17 can complete the online application. Anyone interested in supporting SHP through monetary or bedding donations can learn more on the website, shpbeds.org/chapter/in-kosciusko. All donations given to the SHP/ Kosciusko County Chapter are used for children in Kosciusko County.