Locals volunteer for nonprofit that builds beds for kids

SPRINGTOWN — Springtown resident Ron Pepperman likes working with wood and with people, so volunteering with the national nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace fits him perfectly.

According to its website, Sleep in Heavenly Peace aims to provide beds to kids who otherwise sleep on floors and couches. Volunteers build, assemble and deliver beds to families in need of them.

To Pepperman, it is reasonable to think that if a child is rested, then they will do better in school and have better self-esteem.

“If a kid gets a good night’s sleep and he’s in a safe place, most of the time, he’ll have a good day at school,” he said. “It’s when other things kind of impact your ability to sleep, whether it’s stress or a hungry belly or almost anything else, then school is tougher. And without a good education, life can be tough.”

Pepperman found out about the organization through his wife’s friend and decided to volunteer with the Denton chapter for the first time last month.

“I go into most things believing that it’s going to be good, and most of the time, I am not disappointed,” he said before volunteering.

Pepperman invited others in his circle to volunteer with him, and one of them was able to attend. In all, he reported that multiple people showed up at Willowwood Church of the Nazarene in Denton Aug. 24, and they built 10 beds in about 2 1/2 hours. Delivered beds include a mattress, a quilt and other bedding, he said. Volunteers cut, sanded, stained and branded wood, and drilled holes, among other tasks. Pepperman said he knew the process for the tasks required, but instructions were also given on the day. Any volunteer could work at any of the stations, and there were people on site who could help and make volunteers feel comfortable. Overall, Pepperman said the process of building the beds was efficient and simple.

Pepperman described making something with lasting value as relaxing and rewarding, but more than that, he was interested in volunteering for the fellowship with others.

“I think the camaraderie of being with a group of guys with a noble goal is pretty much the satisfaction I need,” he said.

Depending on the need, Pepperman would like to see another Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapter form somewhere west of Lewisville and south of Denton, perhaps in Springtown or Weatherford.

“I don’t want to pull from their labor pool from Denton, but I think if it were more convenient, less than a half hour travel instead of an hour, that we might find people who would want to do something like that,” he said. “I’m discovering that there are quite a few what we call ‘woodpeckers,’ who are retired, that just like to do these kinds of things.”

Check out https://shpbeds.org/ for more information about Sleep in Heavenly Peace.