Our program last Wednesday featured Jack Seeley, who along with his wife Charlotte, lead the Beaumont chapter of “Sleep in Heavenly Peace.” This non-profit organization has as its motto “No kid sleeps on the floor in our town.” The organization was founded in Kimberly, Idaho in 2012. It is the only charity providing hand-made bunk beds to children who don’t have beds of their own. It builds each bed from scratch by partnering with volunteers from churches, businesses, individuals and organizations like Rotary during events called “Build Days.” On other occasions, groups get together and deliver the newly built beds to the children in need in their homes.

There are 250 chapters today in every state in the US and every province of Canada bordering the US. One hundred thousand beds have been built to date and counting. Several years ago, Jack Seeley became aware of this organization and he and his wife began to build these beds in a garage. They quickly discovered they needed more room and moved to their current facility on 4th Street.

The local chapter has delivered 1400 beds to date in this area, most in Beaumont, but also in Pt. Arthur, Orange, Silsbee, Vidor and other smaller communities. It will provide beds to all zip codes in Orange, Jefferson and Hardin counties. Each bed and mattress costs $200. That does not include bed linens or pillows.

Anyone can request a bed for their children or even someone else’s children. Some vetting is done, however, most of those applying do not have bank accounts or regular income. The place to apply is on the website at SHPbeds.org or by calling 844-432-BEDS.

They are always in need of volunteers and donations. Anyone can donate or volunteer online or by contacting Mr. Seeley at 409-718-0036. Or you can listen for a rotary workday at “Sleep in Heavenly Peace.”