Tomah Health Community Foundation president Brian Eirschele said he was shocked to hear children in the area were sleeping on the floor and needed a bed. “I was one who was shocked that we have a need for our young people in this city to have a need for beds. It’s still surprising to me and it breaks my heart in many ways,” said Eirschele when the foundation received a funding request from the local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly (SHP).
The foundation donated $1,200 to the local Sleep in Heavenly Peace group Feb. 14 to help with a planned ‘build day’ at Recreation Park in Tomah on Feb. 15. “It feels wonderful to be able to help out with building beds in the community,” said Eirschele, who planned to take part in the local build event.
SHP officials had hoped to build 40 to 50 beds during the event. “Each child receives the bed frame, the mattress, pillowcase, sheets and a pillow, and then most of them will receive a handmade quilt for their bed,” said Gwen Nelson of Tomah, chairperson for the Monroe County Depot for Sleep in Heavenly Peace. “Without the foundation’s support we would not be able to do this, so we truly appreciate the foundation donating the money,” added Nelson.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a nonprofit group, based in Idaho that ensures children that need a bed, get one. Nelson said the local organization has been in existence for three years and has built hundreds of beds for children in the area. “We don’t ask where the kids are. Some are sleeping on the floor, some are sleeping in chairs, so it is kind of sad for them. They’re not getting a good night’s sleep, sleeping in a chair or on the floor, that’s hard,” she said.
Nelson said families in need of a bed can apply on the organization’s website at www.shpbeds.org. “We do have a lot of underprivileged people in this area. It’s really surprising and if you talk to school nurses, they understand what the society is dealing with these days.”
Nelson said they plan to continue to build beds as long as there is a need and there are volunteers and organizations to help support it. “We’re still trying to get people out there to be educated with Sleep in Heavenly Peace because there are a lot of pieces with it that people don’t quite understand yet, but in the Monroe County and Tomah area, we’ve done over 100 beds this last year, so there is a need out there.”
She invited anyone interested in helping with the cause to contact her. “They can contact me at my home at 608-372-4439 go to the website at www.shpbeds.org to learn more.”