A bed of their own: Sleep in Heavenly Peace delivers sweet dreams to area kids

From left, Sleep in Heavenly Peace Co-Presidents Marlene and Jim Graves and delivery volunteer Jen Roy with some happy local kids who just got a bed of their own. (Courtesy photo/RHP)

ROCHESTER - In this age of COVID people get all kinds of merchandise delivered to their door by all kinds of delivery services from Uber to UPS, but there's no deliveries on Earth that get the reception that Jim and Marlene Graves of Rochester get when they deliver a brand new bed to a deserving and grateful child.

"Every delivery is so rewarding," said Jim Graves, who with his wife are co-presidents of the nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace Rochester chapter. "When we walk through door it's all smiles. We get hugs all around. Some kids draw personal artwork to show their gratitude."

Jim Graves said they got the idea after watching a show hosted by Mike Rowe, famous for his "Dirty Jobs" show on the Discovery channel, that highlighted the nonprofit, which delivers just-built sturdy pine beds to any child ages 3-17 that doesn't have one of his own.

The motto of the nonprofit that has 280 chapters nationwide? "No kid sleeps on the floor in our town."

Lowe's is the major supplier of all materials, and then it's up to the Graves to get the manpower to build them.

The local chapter's first "build day" was Oct. 2 during which they built 24 beds, 18 of which have already been delivered, Jim Graves said last week.

He said they have requests for 25 more, and will have their last build day of the season on Nov 13 when they want to build another 30 to 40.

The build day will be held at at 185 Wakefield St. in Rochester, and the Graves are looking for 60 volunteers to make it happen.

Their local chapter serves a 15-mile radius around Rochester, including Milton, Farmington, Barrington, Somersworth and Dover.

When they arrive at a recipient's home they assemble the beds into singles or bunkbeds and bring all the accessories like mattresses, blankets and pillows.

Looking forward, they are hoping to secure a donated workshop space of around 1,500 square feet that would allow beds to be built year-round regardless of the weather.

"Currently, outdoor build days are limited to the months from May to November and are dependent on the weather," Jim Graves said. "We could also use a donated space of around 200 square feet to store our tools and completed bed components. That would also help to cut down on expenses and allow more beds to be built."

Jim Graves said that prior to getting their beds, many children were mostly either sleeping on the floor on an air mattress or for younger kids, sleeping in a parent's bed.

To request a bed go to: bit.ly/requestabunk

Sleep in Heavenly Peace relies solely on donations. To donate go to http://weblink.donorperfect.com/nh-rochester