No kid sleeps on the floor in our town.

You would not guess it from the driveway.

Being house poor is more common in Chisago County than the houses would lead you to believe. A family can hold onto the home and still not have a bed for every kid in it.

The president of the Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapter we work with says the same thing from the other side of that front door. He invites first responders to every build, because they are the ones who see it.

"We invite first responders because they're the first line of service. They're the ones that go into the homes and see the situation, which you wouldn't think would be out there." Jim Jacobson, President, Sleep in Heavenly Peace White Bear Lake chapter

A child without a bed sleeps on a couch, an air mattress that has gone flat, or the floor. They wake up tired. They fall behind at school. They do not invite friends over.

A bed fixes a surprising amount of that, and it fixes it the first night.

Who does what

Sleep in Heavenly Peace brings the trailers, generators, tools and lumber to build day. They run the national application database and coordinate every recipient family. Over 350,000 beds built since 2012. The White Bear Lake chapter has delivered more than 1,000, and is currently holding over 1,500 applications against the capacity to build about 300 beds a year.

The Chisago Lakes Lions raise the money, host the build, provide the volunteers, and store the finished beds locally so they are ready the day a family needs one. The build happens this fall, deliberately while school is in session so local students can take part.

The Lions do not choose the families. Sleep in Heavenly Peace owns that end to end, through referrals from social workers, first responders, care portals, and direct applications. Beds are delivered to the home so the need is confirmed on arrival.

Questions people ask

Is my gift tax deductible? No. The Chisago Lakes Lions Club is a 501(c)(4), so gifts are not deductible as charitable contributions on a personal return. Businesses often treat a community sponsorship as a business expense. We would rather you check with your accountant than take our word for it.

Who gets the beds? Local children ages 3 to 17 whose families have applied through Sleep in Heavenly Peace. SHP manages the applications and the delivery schedule. The Lions do not screen or select families.

Where does the money go? Into beds. $250 covers the lumber, frame, mattress, pillow, sheets and blanket for one complete bed. Nobody is paid and the club takes no administrative cut.

Can I help build instead of giving? Yes, and nobody gets turned away. A build day takes about four hours and needs 30 to 40 people, and there is no skill required. Money is the thing we are short of right now, but if you want to swing a drill, get in touch.

When is the build? This fall. Date and location to be announced.

The Chisago Lakes Lions Club is a 501(c)(4) organization. Gifts are not deductible as charitable contributions. Sleep in Heavenly Peace is an independent organization; the Chisago Lakes Lions Club is a local build partner.