Lori Graham
Contributing Writer
The NRV Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace works with community members, groups, and organizations to build beds for children in the region that are sleeping on the floor without beds of their own.
Currently, there are around 350 chapters nationally, with the majority within the United States. The New River Valley Chapter, who serves Montgomery County, Radford and Pulaski County was formed August of 2019 and is a 501C3, non-profit group. The team delivered their first bed on Aug. 3, 2020, and have delivered 912 beds overall to children between the ages of 3 and 17. Each child receives a twin bed, all new bedding, new mattress, and a pillow. The delivery and setup is also done by the NRV chapter.
On bed-build days, the chapter members will set everything up and provide training to the designated local organizations or individual volunteers that are interested in helping out. President of the New River Valley Chapter Paul Mele brings in all the tools, equipment, and materials and they set up an assembly line. Once all 40 beds are completed and bedding has been selected for each individual child per their age and preference of design, the beds are loaded up and stored in three places throughout the New River Valley area. One place that provides storage for the organization is the Dublin United Methodist Church.
Delivery volunteers coordinate the delivery and setup of the beds per the availability of the recipients. This happens on a weekly basis all year and has been so needed in the community that the organization is always in need of replenishments of materials and bedding.
The Blacksburg Police Department is hoping to participate in a bed-build in March. The cost of a bed is $250, and the teams come together to build 40 beds at a time, typically on a Saturday. The total cost to build 40 beds is $10,000 which covers all the wood, hardware, bedding, and mattress. Community Outreach Coordinator and Officer Anthony Jones is asking anyone in the community who would like to give money in support of their cause to contact him at 540-443-1439 or email him at ajones@blacksburg.gov. Additional information can also be found at the Blacksburg Police Department Facebook page.
How can you help?
Monetary donations are always needed, and individuals can go directly to the NRV Chapter’s Facebook page where there is a “donate here” button. Some organizations have held bedding drives. The bedding in a bag has been found to be the best choice for donations as it contains matching sheets, pillowcases, and comforter, Mele said. If someone has a large donation, Mele said to contact them, and they offer free pick up or smaller donations can be made at their Christiansburg location. Mele can be contacted about donations or volunteering at paul.mele@shpbeds.org
Another way to donate is via their Amazon Wish List. A QR code is provided along with this article for easy access or on the Chapter’s Facebook page as well.
Like the upcoming Blacksburg Police Department, a group can sponsor a bed-build by raising $10,000 or join with other groups to raise money together. Once enough money has been raised to build 40 beds, organizations can work with the chapter to pick a day to build. As many as seven different sponsors have joined together in the past to meet the 40-bed quota, Mele said.
The Sleep in Heavenly Peace NRV Chapter has many pictures on their Facebook page showing the completed beds along with the joyful faces of the children that have a bed to call their own.
A time-lapsed video of a recent four-hour build-day sped up to just 34 seconds shows the incredible work that individuals can do when they come together. There are 120 volunteers in the video.
Many other groups are planning their build-days including Auburn Middle and Christiansburg Middle Schools who will be teaming up together on March 15, Church on Main on March 16, and the Blacksburg Police Department on a date TBD in March. The Virginia Tech Honor’s College has also scheduled a build-day for April 6.
Unfortunately, the demand has outweighed the ability of the chapter and community to keep beds in stock, Mele said. This past December hit the chapter particularly hard with the new year continuing to receive requests for beds.
“I need more churches, businesses, community groups to get involved,” Mele said. “I don’t want to keep running out in December.”
Mele also said that volunteers with trucks are always a big help. Most importantly, do what you can in a small or big way, anything helps to reach the needs of the community’s children.