Steve Kaste is a retired Lutheran pastor who moved to River Falls about 10 years ago. He said that Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) is a new passion for him. Recently he got a call from his sister about an event in Menomonie; the event was an “assembly line” making beds, and she knew that Steve likes “making stuff”. The leader of that event was looking for someone in St Croix County to form and lead a group in this area to build beds for people who need them. Steve said that in most communities, 2-3% of children do not have a proper bed. Click READ MORE for the full story.
SHP was started by a couple in Salt Lake City Utah who made a bed from scrap lumber and offered it for free. Since 2012 SHP has grown to 350 chapters. Motto is that “no kid sleeps on the floor in our town”.
Steve said that SHP provides much more than the bed frame. In addition to new mattresses, the organization gives bedding, pillows, and often quilts or covers made by quilting groups. Steve added that going on a delivery is a very rewarding experience. Lumber and the tools used by volunteers to make the beds must be purchased, but bedding materials are donated whenever possible.
SHP has gone from 22 beds in 2012 to about 41,000 beds delivered in 2022. Steve conveyed that the organization’s fiscal management is excellent. SHP corporate is highly rated by a charity rating organization called Guidestar. The headquarters is managed by 13 full-time equivalent employees and has no headquarters building.
All requests for beds start with an on-line application. The application is followed up by someone looking at the need to confirm. Beds are pre-made and assembled on site by SHP volunteers. Some chapters have long waiting lists, others have inventory that is waiting for a need to be identified in the community served.
Build Days are the big event. The Build Days build both beds and communities. Businesses can sponsor the events, churches can sponsor, others can sponsor events.
Budgeting for a build day: determine budget, review the sponsor, work for materials and bedding donations and discounts. Steve said that $250 per bed is used for budgeting purposes. Everyone gets put to work on some job or other on the site. Jobs can be learned quickly, and people move from place to place as needed. The needs on a build day are about 1800 square feet of space, a minimum of 4 circuits of 110V power, parking adequate for volunteers, and of course restroom facilities.