If you’re a parent, you’ve said it. Probably emphatically. “It’s bedtime!”

While our children’s bedtime often means a little bit of respite for mom and dad, we also know that sleep is especially important for children as it directly impacts mental and physical development.

Most of us have a nice bed to sleep in every night, but that’s not the case for all of our students in Round Rock Independent School District. Many students live doubled up with other family members. Some parents can’t afford to buy a bed for their children, leaving them to sleep on couches, blankets or the floor. Lack of proper sleep affects children academically, socially and emotionally. We can all relate to one or two nights of poor sleep. Imagine if this was your reality every day.

The organization Sleep in Heavenly Peace recognizes the importance of every child having a proper bed and a good night’s sleep. On Feb. 1, 2020, Sleep in Heavenly Peace teamed with First United Methodist Church of Round Rock to build high-quality bunk beds for families in need.

Not only did volunteers build and deliver the beds, they included mattresses and bedding as well.

The organization was able to provide 40 Round Rock ISD families with high-quality bunk beds. Many of these children have never had a bed to call their own. The feedback from families is heartwarming. Below are quotes from some of the families who received beds.

“Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts. We are so grateful our girls have a real bed to sleep on.”

“We got a bed for our daughter and it is awesome! She loves it and won’t get off of it. The church was so sweet and they were so fast. I’m grateful. Thank you.”

“This opportunity is a blessing. My kids now have a bed to sleep in and they are so happy!”

“I took advantage of this help and it was awesome!!!! They allowed the kids to even help to screw the beds together. It felt so nice to see my kids on beds the next morning.”

“We appreciate the collaboration between First United Methodist Church, Sleep in Heavenly Peace and Round Rock ISD,” Round Rock ISD Community Partnerships Supervisor Rachael Sefton said. “It takes all of us working together to make a difference in the lives of our students.”

Learn more about the organization Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

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