Rotarians build beds for in-need children with ‘Sleep in Heavenly Peace’

MADISON – After a long day, people head to their soft, comfortable bed for a peaceful night’s sleep. Did you realize many children don’t have a bed and must sleep on the floor?

To alleviate this scenario, Rotary Club of Madison has enlisted with “Sleep in Heavenly Peace,” a national organization that works to resolve the nationwide problem of in-need children who must lie on a hard floor and try to rest. The resolution can transform lives and build better communities.

Debbie Overcash, the club’s Community Service Director, asked Marc Jacobson to serve as chairman for “Done in a Day” projects, or short-term jobs that club volunteers can finish in a morning or afternoon. Bed building is an example.

“We built beds in November and will again on April 26,” Jacobson said. “We had a variety of people participate.” The beds are distributed throughout North Alabama.

To prepare for building, Rotarians at- tend a safety briefing. “Each person goes to a position in the assembly line. Jobs include sawing, sanding, drilling, assembling, staining and branding the wood,” Jacobson said.

Later, staff members with Sleep in Heavenly Peace and Rotarians deliver and assemble the beds.

While working on the beds, Jacobson said he felt positive about results. “It’s all about service and helping others. There’s a sense of genuine satisfaction in completing dozens of beds that we know will be used by those who need them. We’ve seen heartwarming videos of deliveries.”

Other Done in a Day projects include Madison Adopt-a-Spot cleanup; Monarch butterfly habitat; Mardi Gras party at Madison Senior Center; building wheelchair ramps; preparing Thanksgiving baskets; booth activity at Madison Street Festival; One Generation Away food distribution; and support for Madison Christmas Parade and Christmas Tree Trail.

Current officers of Rotary Club of Madison are President Bill Holtzclaw; Immediate Past President Erik Simonson; President-Elect Carla Buchanan; Treasurer Bob Barnes; Secretary Cynthia Curtis; Sergeant at Arms Emory DeBord; Director, Club Service – Tom Florence; Director, Community Service – Debbie Overcash; Director, International Service – John Allen; and Director, Vocational Service – Peter Alvarez.

Rotary Club of Madison meets on Thursdays at 7 a.m. at Hogan Family YMCA, except on third Thursdays for an evening social gathering.

For more information about Sleep in Heavenly Peace, visit shpbeds.org. For more information about Madison Rotary, call 256-564-2075, email madisonrotary@gmail.com or visit madisonalrotary.org or Facebook.