Sleep in Heavenly Peace is building bunk beds this weekend. Here's why
Hammers will be flying on Saturday as volunteers in metro Detroit and across the nation turn out to build thousands of bunk beds for needy families.
Over 200 North American chapters of the nonprofit group Sleep in Heavenly Peace are organizing a "day of building." In Metro Detroit, the group's western Wayne County chapter is hoping to complete 50 bunk beds. Individuals can help by dropping off twin-sized, bed-in-bag sets or volunteering their time building.
The bedding items can be dropped off at "Men on the Move" at 12400 Merriman Road, Livonia. The actual building will happen at the Lowe’s Home Improvement store at 6555 N. Newburgh Road in Westland.
The Lowe's Home Improvement Community Impact Project, along with donations from other businesses and individuals, is funding the effort.
Individuals seeking to volunteer can sign up and are requested to arrive 30 minutes before the 8:30 a.m. start time. Volunteers can participate in build days and deliveries.
The group needs 15 volunteers to help load the truck and trailer at the build location and unload them at their storage location at Stor-n-Lock Self Storage in Westland once the day is over.
If individuals are not able to come out and volunteer, monetary donations will be accepted by check and online. Checks can be sent to their P.O Box are SHP, P.O. Box 85304 , Westland, MI 48185.
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Monetary donations cover things like pillows, comforters, mattresses, and sheets.
SHP is a nonprofit organization created to build and deliver bunk beds for children in need. They began in 2012 and have built over 100,000 beds for children across North America. Their motto is "no kid sleeps on the floor in our town" and hopes to always be able to fulfill this quest.
The western Wayne County chapter was started in 2018 and is the only one located in metro Detroit. So far, the chapter has built and delivered over 650 beds within 21 build days.
Wendell Gramlich, the chapter's co-president, says that more chapters are needed considering the fact that the current location only covers a few zip codes in Detroit. They're only making around 250 bunkbeds per year and the demand is closer to 1,000.
"Unfortunately the need is great," Gramlich said.
Gramlich believes that if four more chapters were created in Michigan, they could possibly meet the demand.
If individuals want to start or look for chapters in their own area, there are ways online.
Contact Chandra Fleming: cfleming@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Volunteers will build thousands of bunk beds Saturday. Here's why
