PHOENIX — Sleep in Heavenly Peace is celebrating a huge milestone that is changing young lives across the Valley: 10,000 beds built for children in need.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace's Phoenix chapter is run completely by volunteers, and everything from the pillows, bedding, mattresses, and more is donated to children and their families for free.
The Phoenix chapter has been around for a little less than a decade and has gotten big support from ABC15 viewers.
In August of 2023, ABC15 Mornings anchor Kaley O’Kelley profiled Sleep in Heavenly Peace, showing viewers how the non-profit builds and delivers bunk beds for children in need.
Joe Genovese, who leads the organization, says people showed up at their garage offering to help. One viewer called with an offer to fund a $25,000 grant for supplies. It was enough to keep the builds going for weeks.
“Our demand is growing greatly because the word is spreading," Katie Feuer, one of the leaders for the Phoenix chapter, told ABC15 earlier this year. “A lot of the people we help are women, moms calling us saying they need beds, so this really is women helping women.”
The group now works out of a 6,300-square-foot workshop near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and has grown into a network of delivery hubs serving families across the Valley.
The nonprofit is a Qualifying Charitable Organization, meaning donations can be used toward the Arizona tax credit.
Even with this progress, the need remains high. More than 3,000 children are still waiting for a bed.
As volunteers finish the 10,000th build, Genovese says the goal stays the same.
“Every bed means one less child on the floor,” he says. “That’s what keeps us going.”
If you're interested in helping out, check out their website.
