Wednesday, April 30, 2025
www.thepapersonline.com
Serving Kosciusko County and parts of Elkhart, Marshall & Noble Counties Know Your Neighbor . . . . . . . . . . 2➤ Good Neighbors . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Vol. 54, No. 45
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
BUILDING A BED — Beth Lamb helps to put a bed together at a recent “Build Day.” Photo by April Lamb Photography.
WORKING TOGETHER — Making a bed recently on “Build Day” are from left Austin King, Hayden Lechlitner and Luke Keim. All photos provided by Becky Kiphart.
Children can sleep in
HEAVENLY PEACE By PHOEBE MUTHART Staff Writer Millions of children in the US do not have a bed to sleep in. The statistics are staggering even right here in Kosciusko County. But one nonprofit organization is looking to change that. Sleep In Heavenly Peace has a chapter in the county, which provides free beds to needy children. All the beds are made by volunteers and delivered to children’s homes. Sleep in Heavenly Peace was founded in 2012. It is a nonprofit organization that builds and delivers beds to children who do not have one. The organization was founded by Luke and Heidi Mickelson in Twin Falls, Idaho. Since then, 200,000 children have received a new twin bed. There’s over 400 chapters in the US. In addition, bunk beds are built from scratch and built to last a lifetime. Locally, a chapter was formed in March of 2024. Becky Kiphart is the county’s chapter president. Michael Webb, her brother, is vice president. The two said they were surprised when they realized many
children in Kosciusko County didn’t have a bed. “We believe that a bed is a basic need for a child’s physical, emotional and mental support,” Kiphart said. The beds are made for children ages 3 to 17. On average, 3% of children in the country do not have a bed. SHP partners with organizations, churches, businesses, and individuals to build beds at events called “Build Days.” “When these beds are delivered to a recipient, mattresses, pillows and bedding are all included,” she said. So far, 330 beds have been delivered in the county in the past year. That is all thanks to faithful volunteers, who have donated 3,479 hours of their time so far. “It takes 40 to 50 volunteers to make a bed,” said Webb. “Volunteers make the bed in an assembly-line fashion. We start with a bulk of lumber.” Corporate sponsorships are also available. The beds are made for children ages 3 to 17. People may also donate new, twin-size sheets, pillows and
ALMOST DONE — Sleep in Heavenly Peace makes beds for children who do not have one. Shown is wood that will be used to make a bed for a child. Beds are made onsite outdoors using an assembly-line fashion. bedding items. Bedding may be dropped off at Warsaw Community Church, 1855 S. County Farm Road, Warsaw. Checks can be mailed to: Sleep in Heavenly Peace, P.O. Box 390780, Omaha, NE 68139 and put Kosciusko chapter in the memo line. There will be several community volunteer builds this year. To register, visit its website. The “Build Days” are all from 8 a.m. to noon at: • Warsaw Community Church, May 3.
• Wawasee Bible Church, May 17, Milford, “but it’s full,” said Kiphart, meaning there’s enough volunteers. • North Webster, June 14, at the Mermaid Festival grounds. For future “Build Days or to register,” visit its website or Facebook page. There is also an Elkhart County chapter. For more information or to apply for a bed, visit shpbeds.org or its Facebook page or call Kiphart at (574) 527-9289.