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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – Later this week, a large gathering of volunteers will work together to construct 20 beds for needy children at the Columbiana United Methodist Church.

The Columbiana United Methodist Church is set to partner with the Birmingham Southern Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace to build 20 beds for needy children on Saturday, June 22 in the parking lot of CUMC between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

“For quite some time our church council has been desiring to participate in a significant local mission project,” said Bruce Burttram, trustee and project coordinator for CUMC. “Our hope was to involve, not only our congregation, but also those from our community with the project benefitting our local community.”

Currently, the Birmingham South Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace has a waiting list of more than 200 children and has already built more than 500 beds.

“We believe that a bed is a basic need for the proper physical, emotional and mental health support children need,” said Carolyn Murray, chapter president of the Birmingham South Chapter of SHP.

The Birmingham South Chapter of SHP is a local chapter of the greater organization which is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The organization’s mission statement is “No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town.”

“We bring the community together to build sturdy twin and bunk beds for children in need, ages 3-17, who don’t have a bed of their own,” Murray said.

The beds built during the event will be twin and bunks beds, and when delivered, will come with twin new mattresses and new bedding such as a sheet set, comforter, bed-in-a-bag set and a pillow. SHP volunteers will personally deliver and set up the beds while visiting with the recipients and give them encouragement and moral support.

“We depend on donations from schools, civic organizations, churches, businesses and individuals to provide the funds to purchase the lumber and tools which (are) set up in an assembly line to cut wood, sand, stain and assemble headboards, bed slats and side boards,” Murray said.

The cost to build and deliver each bed, along with the mattress and any other items is $250 per bed.

“Our church is financially committed to fund one-half the cost of this build as we deem it a great opportunity for CUMC,” Burttram said.