One nonprofit is out to bring the holidays to the children of Orlando. Sleep in Heavenly Peace is an organization that builds beds for low-income families.
Building beds for children in need
According to a report with Yahoo News, volunteers from the Orlando Sanford International Airport made beds for children in need. They managed to make around 40 single beds and bunk beds during the event.
The volunteers got to learn the basics of carpentry on the spot as they sanded, stained, and assembled the beds. The finished products are delivered to local children who sleep on the floor.
The event also marked a special celebration of the nonprofit because it built its 1,500th bed.
The nonprofit has a long client list ahead of them, with around 500 families on the waitlist.
Leave no child behind
In an earlier report with WESH, the nonprofit was the recent recipient of the news outlet's Community Champion award.
The organization continues to make a difference in the lives of the children of Central Florida. Its mission is that "No kid sleeps on the floor in our town."
According to the nonprofit's website, the organization wishes to make a simple luxury a reality for children in Central Florida.
Bill Carleton established the Orlando West Chapter back in 2021. He explained that for the less fortunate, owning a bed was a luxury.
Carleton pointed out that this was a luxury many people often overlooked. He said that he felt ashamed seeing the circumstances some of these children were in.
He explained that these children did not have a bed to sleep on. They would sleep on a mattress on the floor.
Sometimes, they did not even have the comfort of a mattress and slept on a blanket or a pile of clothes.
Helping a child in need
What sets the nonprofit apart from the rest is that they do more than provide and deliver the beds.
They allow volunteers the experience of building these beds themselves.
The costs for building the beds are shouldered by partner organizations and business sponsors.
Volunteers also pack up the bed parts, mattresses, and bedding to trucks where they will be delivered to the children who need them.
Families can apply for the beds online. Others can make use of a referral system through the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Other social service organizations can also refer the families for a bed.
Many of the parents who avail of the free beds could not afford to buy beds for their families.
It is an emotional moment for the parents who see the beds for the first time.
One of these parents who could not help but be brought to tears is
Vedette Colin. She received beds for her children.
She shared that this gesture meant a lot to her. Colin pointed out that she found it unbelievable that there were amazing people who were willing to help them.
Colin expressed her gratitude for the nonprofit.
"To be able to bring a child a safe, sturdy place to sleep, a bed they can call their own, it means the world," Carleton said.
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