'They are really doing a commendable job': Organization providing beds for kids in need
An organization that provides new beds for children who need them made a delivery Saturday to a family that recently moved to Edmonton.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) is a nonprofit organization with chapters across Canada and around the world.
It was founded in the U.S in 2012 and the first Canadian chapter was founded in 2019. The group raises funds, builds and delivers beds to families for kids who don't have them.
There are five Canadian SHP chapters, one in Edmonton, Strathcona County, Vernon, Winnipeg and Windsor.
"Kids are not the best versions of themselves when they’re not well rested," said Julie Parr, the marketing and communications director for SHP Canada. "So having a good night’s rest means that kids learn better at school, they’re physically healthier and socially and emotionally they just function better.
"It also improves the sleep of parents. When there’s a family of five sleeping on a queen size mattress nobody’s well rested."
One such family was Vishal Shah's, who moved to Edmonton in November. They, including their six-year-old daughter Kheeana, have been sharing a queen size mattress and appreciate the gift they were given Saturday.
"It will make quite a lot of difference because she will get some of her privacy and she will feel more special," said Shah.
"You don’t find such services in other countries. They are really doing a commendable job."
SHP helps people who are living at or under the poverty line, as well as newcomers to Canada.
"We (also) have a lot, unfortunately, of mostly moms who are fleeing violent situations and starting completely over from scratch," said Parr.
The economic situation in Alberta is also contributing to a rise in demand for SHP's services.
"People are losing their jobs, they’re having to move, sometimes leaving everything behind in order to try to find new work and they have to start over again," added Parr. "They just don’t have the money for food, rent, clothes and beds, so beds will always get left to the end.
"On average in any community two per cent of kids do not have a bed to sleep in."
SHP has seen a surge in demand for beds for children ages 3 to 17 and since July 2022, the Strathcona County chapter has had a waitlist of around 200.
"Since then we’ve got it down to about 130 kids but keep in mind we’re still receiving applications on a private level from referral agencies," said Parr.
According to Parr, the organization has gotten requests from other provinces, including as far away as New Brunswick, which it had to turn down.
"What we’re noticing in Edmonton is our one chapter is servicing a city of over a million people and we can’t do it," she added.
SHP hopes to open two new chapters in Edmonton by the end of 2023, with the goal of increasing volunteer opportunities and getting beds out quicker.
"In the near future I would like to be a part of that and I would like to contribute my part because what they have done, what I see is really a great job and I would like to be a part of that," said Shah.
Across Canada, SHP has delivered over 1,100 beds to families in need of them.
In order to qualify for a bed from SHP, parents need to have custody of their children, an active lease, have limited income and the child must not have a bed at all.
SHP accepts donations of new twin size bedding and monetary donations on its website.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6963806.1721000812!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Trudeau says he spoke with Trump after shooting, condemned political violence
The Prime Minister's office says Justin Trudeau spoke this afternoon with former president Donald Trump in the wake of a deadly shooting at one of his campaign rallies on Saturday.
What we know about the 20-year-old man who tried to assassinate Donald Trump
The FBI identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pa., as the suspect in Saturday's attempted assassination of former U.S. president Donald Trump at a campaign rally.
UBC investigating professor’s social media post following Trump assassination attempt
The University of British Columbia is investigating a now-deleted social media post from one of its faculty members that appeared to be wishing an assassination attempt on Donald Trump had been successful.
What an ex-FBI agent noticed in the aftermath of Donald Trump rally shooting
An apparent assassination attempt has many questioning how a shooting that wounded former U.S. president Donald Trump was even possible.
Recovery mission underway in Port Stanley after 14 year old goes missing in Lake Erie
A volunteer human chain was walking the water’s edge in Port Stanley, Ont. Sunday in search of a boy went missing in Lake Erie. Around 2:30 p.m. OPP and Central Elgin Fire were dispatched to the main beach after a 14 year old entered the water and did not resurface.
LCBO reverses plan to open select stores on Friday as strike continues
The LCBO has reversed its plan to open select stores on Friday as retail workers continue to strike across the province, according to a statement from the Crown corporation on Sunday.
Copa 2024: Argentina beats Columbia 1-0, winning their 16th Copa America title
Argentina won its second straight Copa America championship, overcoming Lionel Messi’s second-half leg injury to beat Colombia 1-0.
Obituary Shannen Doherty, '90210' actress, dies at 53, People magazine reports
American actor Shannen Doherty, best known for her role as high school student Brenda Walsh on hit 1990s television drama 'Beverly Hills, 90210,' has died at age 53 following a years-long battle with cancer.
Read the letter from Melania Trump responding to attempted assassination of Donald Trump
Former first lady Melania Trump issued her first public response since her husband, former President Donald Trump, was injured in a shooting at one of his rallies on Saturday.