Local nonprofit says 30 children sleeping without beds. Here’s how you can help
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- Sleep in Heavenly Peace and Sparklight will build 10 beds for Jackson County kids.
- Thirty children in Jackson County still need beds, ages ranging from 3 to 17.
- Sparklight provides paid volunteer days and partners in SHP’s first large local build.
The Jackson County chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace is partnering with Sparklight Internet to build ten beds for Coast children in need. Sparklight associates and SHP volunteers will gather Friday in the Jackson County Civic Center to assemble beds, complete with new mattresses and bedding.
SHP is a nonprofit that organizes build days, bed-drives and bed deliveries to support bedless children. With over 325 chapters nationwide, including one in Jackson County, SHP has delivered over 286,000 new beds to families across the United States.
According to SHP Jackson County President Ed Noles, 30 children in Jackson County between 3 and 17 years old are waiting to receive a bed.
“Not having a bed affects more than just physical needs, it affects the child emotionally as well,” Noles said. “Studies have shown that they do better in school. They’re more emotionally stable when they get a good night’s sleep.”
“We’re thrilled to see the Jackson County community come together this weekend to build beds for children in need,” SHP Executive Director Jordan Allen said. “When neighbors roll up their sleeves to build these beds, they’re creating more than a safe place to sleep—they’re giving children the dignity, comfort and better health that comes with a good night’s rest.”
‘Angel days’
Sparklight is a national broadband communications provider, with four locations on the Coast. The company gives associates ‘angel days’ — a full day of pay to volunteer at a nonprofit organization.
“Sparklight cares deeply about the well-being of families in our community,” Senior Regional Director Charles Oakes said. “Every child deserves the comfort and security of their own bed. Partnering with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to build beds for kids right here in Jackson County is incredibly meaningful to our team.”
Oakes said Sparklight has been part of the Coast community for 50 years, and that associates regularly volunteer with local nonprofits.
“To me, it really shows how much Sparklight cares about this community,” Oakes said. “These investments into these incredible nonprofits are making significant impacts by building equitable outcomes for all of our children across the Mississippi Gulf Coast.”
The volunteer experience
Noles said SHP teaches volunteers how to participate in an assembly line process, where they will cut, drill, assemble, sand, stain and brand each frame before finishing them with new mattresses, sheets, comforters and pillows.
“The volunteer experience is just a very powerful one, both the building of the beds, but also the delivering of the beds,” Noles said.
Though Friday’s event is private, Noles said interested volunteers, and families in need of beds, can apply on their website.
“It’s really important for us to invest our time, our money and our resources into building a community that we can be proud of,” Oakes said.
