A local nonprofit that works to provide kids in need with beds is now in the national spotlight.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace, which started just a few years ago in Kimberly, Idaho, will be featured on the Facebook show “Returning the Favor.”
“We're really excited,” said Liz Colton, Boise chapter president. “His show has about 10 million viewers, so we're hoping that more people hear and see about us so that we can grow it bigger and help more kids."
Sleep in Heavenly Peace builds bunk beds, provides the mattresses, bedding and delivery.
They started in 2011.
"Our CEO actually started it in his garage at Christmas time,” Colton said. ”They just thought they'd build a bed for a lady at their church whose kids didn't have a bed to sleep on. And they built the bed, took a picture of it had some extra wood an posted it on Facebook and said ‘Hey does anybody else need a bed?’"
More than 70 responses later, they knew there was an even greater need for beds. Now there are 13 different chapters of Sleep in Heavenly Peace spread out over eight different states.
Everything they do is donation-based, and that's where the community steps up.
"We work with a lot of Eagle Scouts, corporations,” Colton said. “We have ways they can sponsor a build and we bring all of our equipment and show up teach them how to build the beds and we can build ten beds."
Scouts like Bennett Millington, who thought helping with this cause fit perfectly for an Eagle Scout project.
"What if I didn't have a bed? I'd probably be hoping and praying every single night just to have a bed,” he said. “I want to make that possible for kids out there. "
Millington raised nearly $3,000 to build ten bunk beds and got around 50 volunteers to come out to build some of those beds. The entire process is a reward for him.
“We take it for granted just sleeping in a bed but these kids, it's so special to them,” he said. “I think they'll remember it for the rest of their lives and I will too."
The episode of "Returning the Favor" featuring Sleep in Heavenly Peace airs Monday Feb. 12.