Sleep in Heavenly Peace Shenandoah expanding bed deliveries across Southwest Iowa
Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) is back and active in the Shenandoah area—helping make sure kids have a safe, comfortable place to sleep. Chapter President Jennifer Miller says the nonprofit builds and delivers beds for children ages 3–17 who otherwise may be sleeping on the floor, a recliner, or sharing overcrowded sleeping arrangements.
Miller has been involved with SHP for about a year and a half. After moving from Omaha to Shenandoah four years ago, she looked for a way to get involved locally. When she learned the Shenandoah chapter had gone quiet, she connected with the Omaha chapter and ultimately helped relaunch SHP in Shenandoah.
The chapter delivered 18 beds last year and has already delivered four in January, with four more scheduled for February. While the name is “Sleep in Heavenly Peace Shenandoah,” the local team covers a wide service area—including Shenandoah, Clarinda, and now Red Oak—with hopes to expand to places like Sidney and Hamburg.
Families in need can apply online through the chapter’s website or through its Facebook page. The application is intentionally simple, focusing on the number of beds needed and the ages of the children. SHP does not require income verification. Each bed delivery includes a bed frame, new mattress, new pillow, and new bedding. The organization does not accept used mattresses due to storage limitations and concerns like bed bugs and stains.
SHP is always looking for volunteers for bed deliveries and summer bed builds. Miller says you don’t need to be a carpenter—if you can carry a board or use a drill, you can help. The chapter is also seeking an additional core volunteer to serve as a volunteer coordinator, helping organize sign-ups for deliveries and related logistics.
Community members can support the mission through online donations, mailing a check (noting “Shenandoah” in the memo line), volunteering time, sponsoring a build, or donating practical items like storage totes and folding tables used during build events. Miller emphasized that donations stay local, supporting bed builds and deliveries in the communities the chapter serves.
