BENTONVILLE, Ark. — On March 13, nearly 100 volunteers gathered on the NorthWest Arkansas Community College campus for the assembly of beds that happens every semester.
Volunteers, students and staff of all ages worked together through an organized assembly-line process that included cutting wooden boards, sanding, drilling and assembling bed frames. Once the frames were complete, volunteers stained the wood and branded the boards with the organization’s logo before preparing them for donation.
The effort is part of a collaboration with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, which has a motto of “No kid sleeps on the floor on our town!”
The large-scale volunteer effort was coordinated through the college’s Construction Technology program, led by Director Ray Taylor. In a Facebook post, Taylor noted that Matt Evans, service learning coordinator and political science professor, approached him five years ago about the project. Since that time, more than 440 beds have been constructed and delivered.
Throughout the event, the workshop environment was filled with the sound of tools and teamwork as volunteers moved through each stage of the construction process. The structured system allowed participants to efficiently build multiple beds while learning hands-on skills.
The event not only focused on craftsmanship but also on community service. In total, 55 beds were built and each bed will be donated to individuals who currently do not have one, helping provide an essential piece of furniture for families in need.
The Sleep in Heavenly Peace–Bentonville chapter posted a note of thanks on its Facebook page, “We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with Ray Taylor and NWACC Integrated Design. Thanks to their support, and the amazing volunteers who showed up ready to serve. We were able to build 55 beds on Friday that will soon be delivered to children across Northwest Arkansas. We truly have some of the best supporters, and because of you, more kids in NWA will have a safe, comfortable place to sleep.”
