Making beds for kids

I read in a book recently that no child should go to bed hungry. That is a 100 percent issue.

Don Harper of Bossier City is seeing to it that “no kid sleeps on the floor in our town.”

The book said nobody can disagree on a 100 percent issue without looking foolish. It said to champion a 100 percent issue and conquer it. If you do, Christ will find a way to work through you.

Harper said this is his way of sharing Christ. He oversees Sleep In Heavenly Peace, a non-profit that partners with organizations, churches and businesses to hold Build Days during which beds are built from scratch to last a lifetime. No woodworking experience is needed. At one build, he said he had a 10-year-old up to a 70-year-old.

Volunteers are supervised, and tools are supplied on Build Day. Employees or organizations network and build relationships while doing volunteer work, Harper said.

Twenty beds can be built in about three hours, he said. They may be single twin or bunk. Bunk beds have scripture under the top bed for the child on the bottom to read.

The beds are delivered assembled to an appreciative home, complete with a mattress, bedding and pillow. “Kids will be ready to be tucked in,” Harper said. Some of the deliveries have come with bibles provided by Lifeway.

Volunteers may go on the deliveries. Recently, seven ladies delivered to five sisters – twins at age 4 and their 5-, 6- and 7-year-old siblings.

Qualifications include sleeping in one bed with parents or siblings, on the floor, or on a couch, futon or between two chairs. Applicants may apply online at www.SHPbeds.org.

Once an application is received, a selection committee will review it. Selecting a recipient isn’t done on a first-come, firstserved basis, but based on which children need beds the most, Harper said.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace makes and delivers beds as supplies and donations allow. When they’re out of beds or bedding, they file unselected applications away until they can make more.

The cost of a bed is $175. The organization or business must raise the amount for a minimum of 10 beds to participate. One hundred percent of donations go toward Sleep in Heavenly Peace. Lowe’s provides a discount on building costs, and Johnson’s Furniture has trimmed prices for mattresses.

Future builds are at Citizens National Bank on Highway 80 on Good Friday and Vicki’s Dance, where 60 high school girls will volunteer.

A bunco group has contributed, and a build has been held at Christ Fit Gym. Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church is using its Ash Wednesday collection for a contribution.

Founded in Idaho in 2012, Sleep In Heavenly Peace is the only charity providing handmade bunk beds to children who don’t have their own. There are 140 chapters in 40 states, Bossier’s being the 86th (it serves Caddo Parish, also). The only other one in Louisiana is in Cutoff.

Harper was watching Mike Rowe’s “Returning the Favor” when it featured Sleep in Heavenly Peace a year ago when his “eyes starting leaking a little bit” and his wife walked into the room, and he told her he wanted to do this project. Enough money was raised for him to get training to begin.

“Returning the Favor” is an American reality web television series. Rowe travels across the United States in search of people who are giving back to their communities. At the end of each episode, those being profiled get surprised with a reveal that allows them to do even more of whatever kind of good work they are doing.

In a year, Harper said 52 beds have been made and 38 delivered. The other other 14 are awaiting mattresses and linens. There are 78 people on the waiting list.

Harper is also known as the voice of Parkway High School football games. He is now using that voice in additional ways.

For more information on how to contribute, volunteer or apply for a bed, call 658-2765.