Beds are brought in and built for kids in time for Christmas
Nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace delivers them for families in need
On the morning before Christmas, three SUVS pulled up to Jessica Cabot's West Side home bearing gifts she has needed for more than a year: beds for her children.
Cabot, 28, watched the faces of her seven youngsters brighten when volunteers from the nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace lugged in materials for five beds. They carried smooth wooden side rails and headboards, along with bedding and sheets splashed with trolls and princesses.
Cabot was surprised when her shy son Elijah followed volunteer Shane Arnold and
his family as they put pre-cut pieces together to form a bunk bed. Her son Jaylen, 8,
clambered on the top bunk, while Elijah, 7, tumbled on the bottom bed.
Cabot was overjoyed to have new beds replace the mattresses the boys used to sleep on. A social worker who knew of her plight suggested that she apply with the nonprofit.
“My kids are very excited,” Cabot said over the sound of drills. “They were sleeping on mattresses. We made the best of what we had.”
On Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the nonprofit delivered 130 beds to families across the city. Every halfhour, 10 groups drove to the warehouse on Sentinel Street to pick up parts of beds for the youngsters. Just like the assembly-line process the team
used to build the beds, volunteers were organized to meet each team and provided the parts and age-appropriate bedding.
This is the third year for a Christmas Eve delivery event. In January 2018, Dr. Eddie Arnold, 46, founded the local chapter that builds beds for children. In the inaugural year, volunteers built 366 beds; in 2019, his team built 1,015.
“We want to let people know there’s a much larger need here in San Antonio than what they know or believe,” Arnold said. He added that nearly 3 percent of the city are children who need beds.
Arnold was looking for ways to give back to the community when he read a friend’s Facebook posts about the organization’s work in Idaho. His resolve to help grew after he watched the nonprofit’s founder, Luke Mickelson, who was featured on a national news report.
“We see all the children in need and as part of our heart want to take care of our family,” Sleep in Heavenly Peace committee member Lisa Wik said. “We see all the kids of San Antonio as our children.”
It costs $200 to build a bed — including the costs of a mattress, bedding, a pillow and a portion to help cover the chapter’s overhead. A benefactor donated the space on Sentinel.
Arnold said there are 1,500 children on a waiting list for beds.
He said the group is looking for volunteers. No prior experience is needed to help construct a bed. He said anyone interested in donating bedding or materials may go online at shpbeds.org for information.
Trained volunteers guide other volunteers through the construction process that includes drilling, sanding, staining and measuring.
As Mike and Amanda Fauver arrived with their children Josh, 11, and Addie, 9, sounds of “Christmas Time Is Here” played from
“It breaks my heart that there are kids in San Antonio that are sleeping on old couches, the floor and mattresses.” Amanda Fauver, volunteer
a speaker.
Amanda Fauver said that as a mother, the nonprofit’s mission hit home. She could not imagine her children not having a bed, something she said everyone takes for granted.
“It breaks my heart that there are kids in San Antonio that are sleeping on old couches, the floor and mattresses,” she said. “This is one small way that makes their life better, especially on Christmas.”
Stan Gross, the nonprofit’s warehouse manager, pulled stacks of headboards.
“It’s my way to give back to the local community,” said Gross, 69. “And I’m glad to do it.”
Samuel Griffith, 17, an Eagle Scout with Troop 285, helped Gross line up bed frames for the teams. Griffith spends four to five hours each week volunteering at the warehouse.
By 1 p.m. at Cabot’s home, Shane Arnold, who is Eddie Arnold’s brother, and his family wrapped up their visit. He watched as Cabot’s children joined volunteers to make the beds.
“I wantmy kids to understand how nice they have it,” he said. “Also to understand that they have a responsibility to help other people in their community and make it better. This is why we do what we do.”