The teacher’s aide pointed at the picture of pajamas on the flashcard and asked the boy to say the word. The boy had a puzzled look, so she asked again, “What do you sleep in, Ricky?”
“The couch,” he responded.
Some needs are evident, publicly visible to the community. But tucked away behind four walls are needs that never cross the minds of most people. Even in small communities (like the one in the real-life anecdote above) children go to sleep every night in need of something as simple and life-altering as their own bed.
Pastor Ronnie Tabor of Crossroads Church in Centralia became aware of this need and decided to do something about it. Inspired by a non-profit in Florida that delivers volunteer-made beds to children in need, he committed to get outside the walls of his church and meet this same need in his local community.
He organized their first bed building project in 2020, but soon discovered that partnering with a local chapter of a national organization, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, would be more effective.
“Working with them provides a simple, safe process that lets young kids through seasoned saints show up for two hours on a Saturday and serve side-by-side to make a difference,” he said.
Bedding and building materials are provided through national partners as well as volunteer donations from church members. The church works with the organization’s local chapter to set up a “build day” on-site at the church. Then volunteers from the church join forces to build and deliver beds to approved applicants, ages 3-17.
In three building projects, Crossroads constructed and placed more than 80 beds. “The most amazing thing is how it impacts people who have experienced it,” Tabor said. “Word of mouth and excitement spreads and more people show up for the next build day.” This includes the families who have received beds.
“They show up at the next event, too!”