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Local Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapter seeks volunteers, build sites and county support
Summary
Randy Hales, president of the local Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapter, described plans to build beds for children without beds and asked the board to refer funding requests to the budget committee; the board agreed to have the budget committee consider the request and report back.
Randy Hales, president of the local Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapter, asked the Wythe County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 25 to help the volunteer group find build sites, volunteers and possible county funding to support local bed builds for children who lack beds.
Hales said his chapter has delivered dozens of beds in nearby counties and plans a March 29 build that would produce 40 beds with roughly 80–100 volunteers. He estimated typical per‑bed costs at $250–$300, with an entire 40‑bed build incurring lumber and mattress costs around $10,000 (he cited startup tool costs near $15,000 for a first large build). "A typical bed runs between 250 and $300 per bed," Hales said.
Board members responded positively and discussed possible county facilities and partner organizations that could host a build. Several supervisors suggested sites such as picnic shelters at Roldtree Lake, the Ager Park shelter or other county buildings; staff and supervisors noted some county buildings are currently used for storage and may not be available. Hales said the chapter can use generator power and build outdoors but prefers a roofed space to work safely during much of the year.
Action and next steps: The board agreed to refer Hales’ request to the budget committee for a recommendation and possible funding consideration. "You wanna make a you wanna refer this to budget committee to make a recommendation next week and then bring it to the board at the next meeting," a supervisor said during deliberations; the budget committee will examine where a contribution could fit in line items and report back.
Why it matters: Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a national nonprofit that assembles and donates beds to children in need; a local chapter’s ability to scale builds depends on volunteers, donated or purchased mattresses and secure, dry build sites. County support — either through facilitation of sites, in‑kind services or budgeted funds — could enable larger local build events.
Clarifying details: Hales said the chapter had received donated mattresses from other regional chapters and that the group had not yet purchased mattresses locally. He provided a contact card and encouraged supervisors and residents to volunteer for the March build.
