Volunteers team up for charity bed build
Oak Forest nonprofit, Palos Heights business host event to make them for children in need
There aremany reasons a child can end up without a bed on which to sleep at the end of the night. Families are victimized by fire or flood. Some children are caught up in domestic violence situations. Others may be dealing with relocation or financial struggles.
As far as Dave King is concerned, the reason is not as important as what he can do to help change that situation as quickly as possible.
“We don’t care why a kid doesn’t have a bed,” he said. “If he doesn’t have one, we want to build him one.”
King is the Oak Forest chapter president of the 100% volunteer driven nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace, which builds and delivers beds to children in need all around the United States, Bermuda and select areas of Canada. He teamed up Sunday with CathyO’Hara, who hosted a four-hour bed build event in the parking lot of her Palos Heightsbased O’Hara and Friends Salon.
“I think it’s a shame in this day and age,” O’Hara said of any child who does not have a bed. “It’s a proven fact that children do better when they have their own bed in their own space.”
The group that turned out to help Sunday was roughly 50 strong and led by King’s core crew, who trained volunteers from O’Hara and Friends as well as members of the public who heeded the call to help. The group built 12 twin beds, and three were already out for the delivery by the next morning, King said.
King said that turnout and output is typical for Sleep in Heavenly Peace, which has been building beds out of Oak Forest for a little over a year.
“I’m almost always at a loss for words for every single time,” King said. “It makes a difference, and together we can make a difference here in our local community.”
Some parents brought their children for community service hours for Scouts or church. Others simply saw an opportunity to help or give back to the community.
Zach Kwiat, 11, of Oak Forest, said he regularly volunteers for charitable events with his father and his grandfather. The Boy Scout was happy that this one was focused on helping other
children.
“I think it’s a really good cause,” he said.
O’Hara said she did not open her own business until roughly seven years ago. Then, she spent much of her time working to make it a success.
“It was all about striving to get my business up and running,” she said.“Now, it’s time forme to give back to others.”
O’Hara said she tries to connect withnewer nonprofits to not only help good causes but also help to build those organizations fromthe groundup. ShehadKing on a podcast and originally planned a build for April. But with COVID-19 regulations then in their infancy, the event was pushed back to October.
O’Hara also put out a call for new twin-size bedding, and the community responded.
“I have this spare room in the salon,” O’Hara said. “It is filled with twin-size bedding.”
Three of the beds were being dedicated to people close to the salon who died from cancer in the past year. The build also was designed to impart a love for community service on O’Hara’s employees.
“It feels good to help others, and it’s good to teach my younger stylists how to give back and appreciate what they have,” she said.
That message was not lost on the stylists.
“I love seeing howmuch Cathy does with the community, and I’m happy I can help, too,” Kara Kosman said.
“It’s a big reason I came to this spot,” Sara Werges said.
Gabby Pecharich noted it is integral to what O’Hara and Friends is all about.
“We love to see everybody smile, to be happy in and out of the salon,” she said.
To support Sleep in Heavenly Peace or apply for a bed, gotoshpbeds.org.