Sleep in Heavenly Peace needs volunteers to build beds

PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit charity, said there is a growing number of children in the community without a bed of their own. The group is hosting a volunteer bed build on May 4. to assemble more beds for children in need.

“Our motto is no kid sleep’s on the floor in our town and that’s what we’re striving to do, that’s the reason we keep building beds as much as we can,” said Phil Sargent, Sleep in Heavenly Peace Easley Chapter President.

Phil Sargent remembers the first time he delivered a bed for a family.

“There was no furniture whatsoever in the child’s bedroom. In the corner, there was a pile of clothes and the child would go to school and when she would come back she would change out of her clothes and into pajamas. Then, she would sleep on those clothes and then she would get up in the morning and take her pajamas off and lay them on the pile of clothes and that was her bed,” said Sargent.

485 beds have been delivered since the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Easley Chapter started five years ago.  The goal is to increase that number this weekend with the help of more volunteers.

“We show you where to drill the holes, how to assemble it all, and then we eventually at the end we stain it and then we let it dry and then we bring it back here and store it until we deliver it,” said Sargent.

According to Sleep in Heavenly Peace, studies have shown that providing children with their own beds improves their quality of sleep and behavior.

Not only will the group deliver the beds, but they will also give the child a new mattress, blanket and pillow.

Seeing a smile on a child’s face is what Sargent said is unforgettable.

“The kids, a lot of times, are coming home from school and then when they come home from school, they see the bed and it’s just like Christmas. Whatever day it is, it’s like Christmas Day because they’ve never had the bed to sleep in and it’s really touching,” said Sargent.

The bed build is Saturday, May 4. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at McIntosh Insurance on Hwy 81 in Anderson, S.C.

No experience is required, and tools will be provided.

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