BROOKINGS The local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace a nonprofit that builds beds for children without a place to lay their heads celebrated a milestone Saturday with construction of their 3,000th bed.
We did our first bed build in June 2018, Dave Miller, president of the local group, said. We built 24 beds that day. Now here we are seven years later doing our 101st bed build and 3000th bed.
Miller founded the local chapter after learning about the nationwide nonprofit.
Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs fame had a show called Returning the Favor, Miller said. He heard of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, did a show and posted a highlight on Facebook. One of my friends sent that to me. I thought, wow, that is really something. Fast-forward to today, theres about 380 chapters across the country. We were number 34 to get trained. Of those 380 chapters, there are seven thatve crossed this 3,000 bed milestone.
He was surprised by how strong the local need was.
If I wouldnt have seen it face to face, I wouldnt have believed it, Miller said. The vast majority of what we build stays right here in Brookings. We did send some to Omaha a few years ago, when they had that big flood. We stepped up to help them by sending a couple hundred beds down there. However, the vast majority stay within a 30 mile radius of Brookings.
He said helping children in need has changed his outlook.
Most of our beds that we deliver 70% maybe are domestic abuse situations, Miller said. I look at life differently now, because I didnt know how many people struggled before. I also didnt know how rampant domestic abuse is. Thats very disheartening when you see it face-to-face.
He said every bed delivery is uniquely poignant.
I just did a delivery to a family where dad got picked up by ICE and taken away. Mom and three little girls had just rented a trailer house they have nothing, Miller said. We always ask what they like, and the littlest one liked Minnie Mouse. We made sure she got a Minnie Mouse quilt and stuffed animal. That little girls eyes lit up when she grabbed that. Then she lays on her bed, grabs a book and opens it up like shes reading its upside down though and looks at us and tells us to get out. It was like, this is my room, this is my space, and Im going to read now so you can go. I love that all of a sudden she had her own space.
He encouraged businesses to participate by sponsoring a bed build.
If companies, groups or organizations want to do a bed build our beds cost $200 each, Miller said. Theyll write us a check and bring their employees who will build those 30 beds. We get 25 or 30 people together, we can easily build 30 beds in a couple hours.
They also need bedding and quilts to accompany the beds.
Weve had businesses set up donation boxes, Miller said. People drop off pillows and twin-sized sheets. We can always use handmade quilts. Theres also youth groups that do tie blankets for us. They get together, tie them and always theme it towards kids making tie blankets with unicorns or monster trucks or something.
He said helping children ought to appeal to everyone.
In this crazy, divisive world we live in, this is a way to just love people, Miller said. This is so much more than giving beds. This creates opportunities for people to receive, for people to give, for people to love.
He welcomes opportunities to share the story of Sleep in Heavenly Peace.
Anything people can do to help us spread the word is appreciated, Miller said.
The Volga school district, they let me come in every year at teacher conferences and share what we do. Weve had several bed requests come because of that. I would encourage anybody in the education system to spread the word about SHP. If there are any opportunities where I can share the SHP story 10 minutes even I would love to be invited in to speak.
More information can be found at shpbeds.org/chapter/sd-brookings and Miller welcomes questions at [email protected] or 605-690-0143.
Contact Jay Roe at [email protected].
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