Volunteers from Georgia’s Own Credit Union and the community rolled up their sleeves this past Saturday to tackle a pressing need – providing beds for children who have none. Assembling 50 beds as part of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a notable effort witnessed more than 50 individuals sacrificing their weekend for a cause that remains dire. Over the initiative's lifespan, more than 200,000 beds have been made to ensure children across the nation have a place to lay their heads at night.
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the action was not a solitary instance but part of a series of bed-building events across Georgia, all aligning with celebrations such as the "Bunks Across America Day." "Currently, in Liberty County, we have about 168 children who do not have a bed," Terry Cook, president of the Liberty County chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, expressed his concern for the issue, as reported by WJCL. The credit union this year had been driven by their 90th anniversary to deliver a total of 90 beds, with the labor of love spreading through Albany and Savannah as well.
The Gwinnett chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace alone has a request queue exceeding 1,000 beds, underscoring the high demand in Gwinnett County and surrounding territories. In Liberty County, powered by the hands of more than 30 volunteers, the production process was hands-on, with the wood being cut, sanded, stained, and branded cautiously to create the structure to support a child's dreams.
Jack Yarbrough, the southeast regional president of Georgia's Own, described the initiative with a hint of humor to WJCL: "This is not like building Legos," pointing out the vigorous effort put into each bed, costing about $250 but ending as a priceless gift to a child. Cook also touched on the importance of the effort, "So, just knowing that we can bring a community together, you know, 30 or 40 people, and within two or three hours, we can build 30 beds. That means within a couple of weeks, there’s 30 kids not sleeping on the floor."
With events like these intended nearly four times annually, Sleep in Heavenly Peace and its volunteers are helping to eliminate the need for children to sleep on floors or overcrowded beds. Such initiatives are crucial, not simply for rest but for a child's ability to thrive. According to Cook, a lack of proper sleep directly translates to a child's diminished ability to concentrate, as relayed by his spouse's observations in her teaching role. Those wishing to contribute to the work of improving children's sleep quality can find opportunities to engage with their local Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapter on social media platforms, where all event announcements will be made.
