Group builds beds for children

The noise of people banging in nails, screwing in bolts and wooden planks being cut filled the warehouse in downtown Beaumont.

More than 60 people had gathered for the monthly “Build a Bed” for needy children event, Sept. 13, organized by Sleep In Heavenly Peace, a nonprofit organization. 

“Sleep In Heavenly Peace is dedicated to making sure no child sleeps on the floor in our city,” Jack Seely, SHP Beaumont Chapter president, said. 

The national nonprofit began  in Idaho when founder Luke Michelson heard his daughter say a few of her classmates didn’t have a bed to sleep in. Michelson organized a local event to build beds.

By 2014, the small-scale project had turned into a fully recognized non-profit with nine chapters in the Midwest. In 2018 the organization received national attention from an unlikely source, Seely said. 

“Mike Rowe from ‘Dirty Jobs’ started a web series called ‘Returning the Favor,’ and he did an episode covering SHP,” Seely said. “After that episode ran in January of 2018, SHP grew from just nine chapters to over 100 nationally.” 

Seely was one of the millions who tuned in to watch the show. 

“That next year I got some of my friends and church members together and founded our own chapter,” he said.

The Beaumont chapter has come a long way since its founding in 2019 in Beaumont’s First United Methodist Church, Hank Hamilton, founding member of SHP of Beaumont, said.

“When we first started, it was just a couple of us with tape measures and lumber in a parking lot making around 20 beds on any given Saturday,” he said. “We were proud of ourselves back then. We even predicted that we would build a hundred beds a year. Now, we do 100 beds a day.” 

The group now operates out of a warehouse off Milam Street, equipped with the tools and space needed to build beds.

“When we moved into this building, we said there is no way we will ever fill up such a big space,” Seely said. “Now we have over 60 volunteers a month, and had to get a second warehouse to store all the bedding and materials.” 

Senior Amber Simpson is president of  Lamar University’s Rotaract Club president said several members had brought the event up at a meeting and they all decided to volunteer.

“That first time I was thinking, ‘This is pretty scary,’” she said. “I had no experience with power tools, and I really thought there is no way I will be able to do this,” 

However, after a few minutes of instruction, Simpson  said she was confident and excited to get to work. 

“They pulled me aside and took the time to show me how to use the sander properly, it really helped me calm down,” she said. “Now, every time I volunteer, I look forward to using the sander and de-stressing while I give back to the community.” 

Rotaract member Alex Williams III said the event gives him a better understanding of the need in the community. Prior to the experience, he said he had been oblivious to how many local children were without beds.

“That’s something that I took for granted, the stability of knowing where I am going to sleep tonight, and some kids do not have that,” Williams said. “Kids shouldn’t be worried about where they are going to lay their head. So, if me giving up my Saturday to make beds allows a child to not have to worry about that, it is a win for me.” 

Hamilton said SHP enjoys working with student volunteers.

“Lamar students are some of the best,” he said. “They have the energy, the willingness to work and, most importantly, a heart for helping people.

“There are givers and there are takers in this world, and the folks that show up from Lamar are givers who energize each other and everyone around them.” 

Sleep in Heavenly Peace is self-funded and relies on donations and volunteers to serve the Southeast Texas community, Seely said. 

“Each bed costs about $250 to build ,” Seely said. “Our goal, every time we do a build event, is to make about a hundred beds. All our funding comes from the community; churches, outreach organizations, and corporate and business leaders who all come together and help make this possible. 

“Every single person on our staff is a volunteer. Not one of us gets paid to be here and that is truly amazing to me. Every cent we are given goes back into our community.” 

SHP hosts bed building events the second Saturday of every month at 2950 Milam St. in Beaumont. There are multiple shifts beginning at 8:30 a.m.

To register to volunteer and for more information, visit shpbeds.org.