Volunteers build 20 beds for children in Lincoln

Across Lincoln, some children go to sleep every night on the floor, mats, or, for those more fortunate, on a mattress shared with siblings.

Saturday morning, a group of 60 volunteers made 20 bed frames on a mission to ensure no child in the community has to sleep on the floor. The bed-building day was hosted by the new Lincoln chapter of the nationwide nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

The organization, which was founded in 2012 in Idaho, has grown to over 325 chapters nationwide including the Lincoln branch that began this year.

It all started in February when Rhonda and Doug Obermeier, from Lincoln, came across one of the nonprofit beds in Phoenix. After returning to Nebraska, the couple was determined to get involved. However, the closest chapter was in Omaha, where volunteers have built more than 900 beds this year alone.

After 10 months of submitting applications and attending training, the Obermeiers were able to host their first bed-building day in Lincoln. The event was held at Hampton Enterprises, a construction company in Lincoln that donated the space.

Hampton Enterprises also provided an enclosed trailer for the nonprofit. Scott Lockard, president of Hampton Enterprises, said their involvement was an easy decision.

"One of our core values is community. Building in our community, giving back to our community, investing in our community," Lockard said.

Connie Hilligoss, the development manager for the Lincoln chapter, couldn't sleep Friday night as she worried that people wouldn't show up on Saturday. When morning came, more than 60 volunteers ranging from 16 to 78 years old showed up to lend a hand, including students from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

"It's phenomenal," Hilligoss said. "They all showed up and they're all thrilled."

For Adam Schrunk, a local firefighter and president of the Lincoln Fire Fighters Association, the cause hit close to home. Nearly every day, Schrunk said they see kids sleeping on the floor. As a parent, he knows that there's nothing the kids can do about the situations they're in.

"It is terrible to see that," Schrunk said. "It's such a simple thing that we can provide in a bed. We all take it for granted."

Around 10 firefighters and EMTs showed up on their day off Saturday to help build the beds.

"When they asked us in our interview, 'Why do you want to be a firefighter?' everybody answers the same way — we want to help people," Schrunk said. "It's an opportunity on our off day to do it for another part of what we do and some of the same people we serve."

The volunteers worked in an assembly line to create the beds from scratch, each of which costs about $250. The bed frames are stained with a special mixture made by dissolving steel wool in vinegar to create a rust.

"The steel wool component repels bed bugs, other insects and mice, so it's one more way that we're creating safety," Hilligoss said. "This stain was custom designed for this because we know that a lot of our beds are going into low income, maybe not the best environments."

Each bed comes with a mattress, pillow, bedding set and quilt.

"We are doing this to make beds and get them in the homes. We're not here to make them and put them in a storage locker room," Hilligoss said.

Before the building got started, the Obermeiers were able to deliver their first bed Thursday to a 5-year-old whose family applied 15 months ago.

"It was emotional because it was the first bed. You've gone through this 10-month process to get your feet on the ground," Rhonda Obermeier said.

Currently, there are 40 children on the waiting list for beds in Lincoln, with the numbers expected to grow as the initiative gains attention. Rhonda Obermeier estimates that nearly 9,000 children in Lincoln do not have a bed of their own.

"It's hard to imagine a kid in our day and age who doesn't have a bed," Rhonda said. "We didn't realize the need in Lincoln."

In addition to the volunteers, local businesses have been instrumental in supporting the cause by donating money and materials.

Jim Cada, an attorney with the law firm Cada, Cada & Jewson, donated $5,000 worth of machinery for the project. Cada said he didn't realize how extensive the project was until he showed up Saturday and saw the volunteers sawing, drilling and assembling the bed pieces.

"It's really nice that we have it and it works so well," Cada said. "You have so many volunteers that come and work and that's really sweet."

Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church also played a key role in the first build, providing $6,000 to purchase the wood for the beds and a dozen volunteers.

"We believe in the mission of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, that every child should have a comfortable, warm, safe place to sleep," the Rev. Jeff Warrick said. "We see it as a tangible way to live out our faith."

Another building day will be held on Dec. 7, where the group hopes to build another 20 beds.

"We're just inviting everyone to give just a little of their time to make the world better for someone else in such a huge way," Hilligoss said. "Think about if you've never had a bed if you're a child and how much their life changes."

The 40 beds that will be made this year will be delivered to homes soon, with many of them expected to be in place before Christmas. The recipients range from foster children to low-income immigrant families, all between the ages of 3 and 17.

For the time being, the local chapter is focusing on serving three zip codes in Lincoln.

"We don't want to overpromise and under-deliver," Doug Obermeier said. "When we get beds going and we start vetting more, we can open up to more zip codes."

Next year, Hilligoss hopes to have more build days and construct around 1,000 beds.

To help with the effort, donations of new twin-size bedding can be dropped off at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 8300 E. Pointe Road. Bedding can also be purchased through the chapter's Amazon or Walmart wishlists.

In addition to building beds, the chapter is looking for volunteers to help deliver and set up beds in homes. For more information on how to get involved as a volunteer or to apply for a bed, visit SHPBeds.org .

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