KAUKAUNA, Wis. (WFRV) – For Sleep in Heavenly Peace, the mission is simple: no child sleeps on the floor.
The nonprofit organization builds and delivers twin-size beds for children who do not have one, at no cost to families.
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“We supply beds for kids ages 3 to 17 who are currently sleeping on the floor, on a mattress, or in bed with a sibling or a parent most times,” said Dan Vermeulen, co-president of the De Pere chapter.
Since launching five years ago, Vermeulen said he has seen the need in the community firsthand.
“There’s a huge need — I didn’t realize it when we first started,” Vermeulen said. “My neighbor is a retired firefighter, and he told me a lot of times the headcount doesn’t meet the bed count, and that’s stuck with me the last five years.”
The nonprofit is now expanding its reach to the 54130 zip code, which includes Kaukauna and surrounding communities. The expansion helps close the gap between the De Pere and Appleton chapters.
“In a small community, you may have one or two bed requests. To go to Kaukauna or Kewaunee, it can be taxing on our delivery teams, so now we have volunteers that can help do that for us,” Vermeulen said.
Each bed costs about $250 to build and is fully funded through donations and volunteer support.
Vermeulen said the reactions from families during deliveries are unforgettable.
“A lot of times you turn around, and you might see grandma or mom and dad, and the tears you see in their eyes,” Vermeulen said. “There’s nothing like it.”
Sleep in Heavenly Peace has 23 chapters across Wisconsin, all working toward the same goal — making sure every child has a bed to call their own.
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“We can’t do it without the community’s help,” Vermeulen said. “We call it ‘bedlessness.’ It’s not a real word, but it’s a real problem.”
Those interested in volunteering for bed build days or learning more about Sleep in Heavenly Peace can visit the organization’s website.
