LEXINGTON PARK, Md. – Michael Brown, President of the Unified Committee for Afro American Contributions, is shown presenting a donation of $500.00 to Deborah Faller, Co-President of the St. Mary’s County chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace. This money will be used to purchase lumber to build beds for kids ages 3-17 who don’t have beds of their own. They have delivered 175 beds so far! Delivering 3 more beds this week.
The St. Mary’s County Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization located at 21797 North Coral Drive in Lexington Park between Toby’s Barbershop and the Mixing Bowl. Their mission statement, NO KID SLEEPS ON THE FLOOR IN OUR TOWN ensures that children ages 3-17 in St. Mary’s and southern Calvert counties have beds of their own.
Guardians who find themselves in a situation where they cannot provide a bed for their child, can turn to SHP. The St. Mary’s County Chapter frequently delivers to grandparents that unexpectedly began caring for grandchildren, families exiting homelessness, and parents simply trying to get back on their feet. Through the wonderful efforts of volunteers and generous donations, beds are built, assembled, and delivered to those children who are otherwise sleeping on couches, blankets or even floors.
Each TWIN bed is delivered equipped with a NEW mattress, NEW sheets, a NEW pillow and a NEW comforter. Very little lumber goes to waste – all usable scrap wood is donated to Calvert Marine Museum for their children’s boat building project. Volunteers receive a coupon for a free Firehouse Subs sandwich – thanks to Darrin Atlas, owner.
SHP’s goal is to not only provide beds to children in need but to bring awareness to child bedlessness in “our town” through their days of service, building, and delivering beds. The more awareness they can provide the community through their continued efforts and community partners, the more support they can gather to continue to fulfill their mission. Donations for lumber and mattresses may be made online at their website: www.shpbeds.org/chapter/md-st-marys-co or by mailing checks or gift cards (preferably for Lowe’s) to SHP, PO Box 1112, Lexington Park, MD 20653. Donations of NEW bedding (pillows, twin mattress pad covers, twin sheets, twin comforters) may be dropped off at these locations: Hospice House of St. Mary’s, 44724 Hospice Lane, Callaway; Toby’s Barbershop, 21797 North Coral Drive, Lexington Park; and Chaplain’s Office, Bldg 401, NAS PAX.
For more information, please visit their website – https://www.shpbeds.org/chapter/md-st-marys-co, follow them on Facebook@shpStMarysCo, email deborah.faller@shpbeds.org, or call 844-432-BEDS (2337) ext. 5949.
If you know a child who needs a bed please visit https://www.shpbeds.org/request-free-twin-bed to complete an application.