On Saturday, Jan. 24, volunteers with Sleep in Heavenly Peace built and delivered beds for kids and teens aged three to 17. The organization works with those who also want to volunteer in locations all across the United States, Canada, Bahamas and Bermuda. McIntosh’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club organized the volunteer opportunity where more than 100 students from McIntosh and J.C. Booth Middle School signed up to build beds.
“[The Sleep in Heavenly Peace organization’s] motto is ‘No kid sleeps on the floor.’ They have been established in the Fayette and Coweta area since 2021,” Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) advisor and business teacher Allen Beall said.
The organization delivered 1,427 beds over the past six years, and most of the beds built were also delivered by the volunteers. On their website, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, there are also many videos and information about how to donate or request for a bed.
“I think it’s important to help others because it’s good to give back to people who might not have stuff that you have and doing a nice thing for somebody could cheer up their day. So I think that’s why it’s good to help others,” freshman Genesis Villatoro said.
Many volunteers came to help other kids with having beds so that kids won’t have to sleep on the floor or share their bed with a sibling, and on Jan. 24 students and some staff from the organization built 50 beds.
“I have been blessed to work with some of the greatest coworkers and for some of the greatest students ever. The students of McIntosh are fantastic human beings and have a lot to give; they just need to be given the opportunity. Service to others is the greatest way to be selfish. I know that sounds strange, but when you are at your lowest and feel empty, service to others for genuine reasons heals you and fills you back up. Maybe that is because it reminds you of your abilities and worth, or maybe it is something greater. Either way, I know it is the answer,” Beall said.
Students that volunteer to come build beds were really pretreated by all the adults who also helped them with harder work like setting a fire or starting the generators. After five hours of working on beds students get food from one of the volunteers. They brought sandwiches, pizza and water, after the event ended.
