'The world needs more kindness': Jockey volunteers come together for bed build

 

KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- For many of us, getting into bed each night and waking up in that same bed each morning is a norm and part of our daily routines.

But for many children, having a bed and getting a good night’s sleep is a luxury. There's an organization looking to change that. 

Sleep In Heavenly Peace is an organization whose mission is to make sure no kid sleeps on the floor. The local chapter serves Racine and Kenosha.

Michael Prudhom serves as co-president of Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

This organization is committed to serving families in the community and hopes to reduce the number of children who don’t have a proper bed to sleep in.

In the last five years, this team has delivered nearly 1,400 beds to families in need. It takes a lot of work to get these beds made so staff with Sleep in Heavenly Peace is teaming up with volunteers from Jockey.

“Jockey after today will have built 200 of those beds with us,” said Prudhom.

The level of need for this effort is something many may not even realize.

“Nationwide, about 2 to 3 percent of kids do not have a proper bed to sleep in," said Prudhom. Experts say data shows that children who get a good night’s sleep perform better in school and other extra-curricular activities.

“If you don’t get a good night’s sleep, you’re not going to do well in school and we have had many stories about how well kids have started to do once they had a bed to sleep in,” Prudhom said.

He also says delivering the beds and getting the positive reactions from families is the best part of these efforts.

Jake McGee is the Vice President and Chief Philanthropy officer at Jockey.

“A big part of my department’s role is to try to find opportunities to get our employees involved in the community. Jockey allows our employees to volunteer for 40 hours a year, paid, during company time and it's my job to help find ways to fill it,” he said.

In the last two years, the wait list for beds has grown to more than 250 kids.

Gail Hansche is a Jockey employee and is volunteering on the bed build.

“It feels really good to know that we’re part of changing so many people's lives here in Kenosha," she said.

 The focus now is getting more volunteers to help make bed deliveries.

Click here if you are interested in getting involved.