A group of local people have started an effort to prevent children in need from having to sleep on the floor.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a national organization made up of many local chapters that built and provided over 18,000 beds last year.
After hearing about the involvement of family members in a Maryland chapter, Ed and Elaine Snyder along with friend Dave Nock decided to create a chapter of the 501c3 in Mars.
Following training in Idaho and the location of a warehouse to build and store the beds, the group was joined by friends and family earlier this month for their first community build which resulted in 15 beds.
“We buy the wood, make it totally from scratch. The headboard and footboard are put together in the shop. Everything is cut, sanded, and there are no stamps, staples, or splinters,” Elaine Snyder said. “Everything is rounded out. The holes are put in them. And then we assemble them at the person’s house.”
Several of those beds have already been distributed to local families in need through the national Sleep in Heavenly Peace organization. Those interested in helping can make monetary donations to buy supplies for the next build or donate at area collection bins.
“We do put a sheet, blanket, comforter, and pillow on the bed. We have three collection bins at both Sherwin Williams stores in Cranberry Township. And then Salon Bella in Seven Fields has a collection bin,” Elaine Snyder said.
“We take only twin sheets and comforters,” Snyder added. The donations also must be new items according to Snyder.
For more information about these efforts, visit the Sleep in Heavenly Peace website which has a link to the local Mars chapter or visit the Facebook page of the local Mars chapter.
