Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a volunteer-led organization that aims to make sure no child sleeps on the floor in our town. To this end, they build and deliver beds along with bedding to children in need.
The Rocky Mount Chapter of this national organization has already had a busy year. It has delivered over 900 beds since the chapter began in 2019, around 200 of those in 2023. In addition to increased deliveries, they have also established a sub-chapter in Halifax County and a new chapter in Martin County. Sleep in Heavenly Peace also received the NC Governor’s Award for Community Service in Nash and Edgecombe Counties earlier this year.
Thanks to a recent grant of $240,000 over the next three years from the Rob and Chrissy Barnhill Foundation, they will have the resources to build and deliver 500 or more beds a year for the next three years–which will get over 1,500 kids off the floor in Nash and Edgecombe Counties.
Chapter co-President Michael Sohn said he is grateful and excited “to have the support of a company in Nash and Edgecombe County that is willing to invest that much back into their community.”
In addition to that grant, SHP received a donation of lumber from West Fraser and the Rewritten Story Foundation. While they have the resources for the beds, SHP is dependent upon volunteers to ensure the beds are built and delivered.
The recent donations and support from our community means SHP needs to ramp up their production, which will allow them to meet the needs of their community, but they hope that they will eventually be able to get to a point where they are no longer needed.
Next Saturday, July 15, SHP Rocky Mount will host a Community Build Day at their facility (2550 N Church St., Rocky Mount) starting at 9 a.m. They are looking for 75+ volunteers to help assemble and prepare the beds for delivery. No special training is required, and everyone can contribute in some way. If you come out to help, they will be glad to find you a job.
Sohn says he loves the community build days because “it is impressive to see the community coming together and building for a common purpose.” They plan to host community build days every month, and organizations can reach out if they would like to schedule an organized build day with SHP in the future.
You can register to volunteer at the Community Build Day on July 15 at their website. In addition to needing volunteers on the build day, SHP is looking to train new people to lead on future deliveries.
If you are unable to volunteer at the Community Build Day but want to donate, or if you want to apply for a bed, you can do so at their website.
Follow SHP-Rocky Mount on Facebook to stay up-to-date with their latest news and needs.
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