Pine Grove Academy students build bunk beds to benefit children

POST FALLS — The back lot of Pine Grove Academy was covered in sawdust, lumber and power tools as about 60 middle and high school students assembled bunk beds for the Sleep in Heavenly Peace organization on Thursday. 

“A bed is a safe place,” said Sleep in Heavenly Peace Spokane Chapter President Lenny Wolf. “It’s where kids go when things get hard.” 

Wolf called the day a perfect example of his favorite tagline: kids helping kids.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a national charitable organization dedicated to providing children with safe, sturdy beds. The Spokane chapter relies on donations. 

He said about a third of their deliveries to children age 12 and older go to kids who have never had a bed.  

Every bed delivery includes the frame, mattress and pillow. For a personal touch, Wolf asks questions about the child, like their favorite color and what animals they like. Then they look through donated sheets and comforters to find the perfect set for that child. 

“We have a group of gals, all they do is pick out the bedding for the kids,” he said.   

Thursday's work session produced about 20 twin-size bunk beds made with discounted lumber from Ziggy’s and Lowe’s. Before the build, staff told students the harsh reality that many children do not have a bed to sleep in.

“I would say for the majority of our school body, like that is something that is not in their understanding,” said Pine Grove Academy Co-Director Rindee Sudweeks. 

According to Wolf, nearly 3% of children in the U.S. are sleeping on the floor. He said that across all Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapters, nearly 103,000 children are on the waiting list for a bed. 

“We do it because we want to get kids off of the floor,” he said. 

Pine Grove Academy, which opened its doors six years ago, is a Christian school. Sudweeks said that since its inception, the school has highlighted community service. 

"We talk about being the hands of Christ," she said.

Pine Grove Academy Community Engagement Specialist Gretchen Steinheiser said they learned about Sleep in Heavenly Peace shortly after opening and set up a build day for students. 

Steinheiser said she remembered the first build going great, and when she reconnected with Wolf, proposed another.

“I was like, ‘Hey, let’s do this again,' because it’s been a great, great organization,” she said. 

Steinheiser hopes to set up a student delivery day so students not only see children's reactions, but also get firsthand experience of the impact they can have on others.

“This organization allows kids to see that whole process, which is wonderful,” she said.  

Wolf said having a bed is a big deal for a child. He said beds are safe places away from at-home stressors, places to recover your health, and, most importantly, places to rest.

“It’s a safe, comfortable place to sleep, and then it's also a certainty, right? It gives them the confidence of ‘I have my own bed to go to every night,’” he said.   

  

    Pine Grove Academy students Anderson, Cyrus, Kelton, Conrad, Corbin and Teddy all use sanders while constructing bunk beds on Thursday in Post Falls.
  

    Sleep in Heavenly Peace Spokane chapter President Lenny Wolf showcases a model of the bunk bed he and the organization build and deliver to needy families.