By Steve Esser
YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. 鈥� Having somewhere to sleep is something no child should have to worry about, and听that鈥檚听the founding mission for Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a nationwide charity听that听recently set up听operations听in Blairsville.听
91TV听and the Blairsville chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace听will听co-host a bed-building event on March 18听at听Mayor鈥檚 Park in Young Harris. Student volunteers will be working with representatives from the Blairsville chapter.听
鈥淲e are excited to partner with Sleep in Heavenly Peace because their mission is incredibly impactful, making sure no child in our community sleeps on the floor,鈥� said Jessie Homesley, 91TV听softball听coach and organizer of听the 91TV event.听鈥淎t 91TV, we believe in creating a service-minded culture, and this is a hands-on way for our students to live that out.听We听will be building and assembling beds that will go directly to children in need, making a real difference right here in the Enchanted Valley.鈥�听
Sleep in Heavenly Peace has 327 chapters across the United States, which have provided听340,000听beds to children between the听ages of 3 and 17. The charity provides听beds,听mattresses, bedding, and听pillows, all听free of charge.听听
鈥淲hen you support a charitable organization, you want to know your contribution makes a real difference,鈥� said Doug Murphy, president of the Blairsville chapter. 鈥淭hat鈥檚听why听we鈥檙e听incredibly proud to announce that Sleep in Heavenly Peace has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid鈥檚 GuideStar for the eighth consecutive year.听听
鈥淲hich means,听we鈥檙e keeping our promise,鈥� Murphy continued. 鈥淲hen we say that 95 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to building and delivering beds for children in need, we mean it. This remarkable efficiency rate听isn鈥檛听just a number 鈥� it听represents听real beds and a lasting impact on the lives of the children we serve and those we have the potential to serve in the future.鈥�听
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The March听18听event听has plenty of volunteers at this point, but听Murphy says there are plenty of ways听to听help听out.听Donations to the Blairsville chapter can be made here:听bit.ly/409hGOb.听
鈥淲e are in need of donations to help us build up our tools and related bed-building components,鈥澨齢e said.听鈥淎nd we also need linens for our bed deliveries. Frankly, we could use any and all听help听that听anyone听could offer. Please, reach out to us at:听shpbeds.org听or听call听(844)听432-2337,听extension听6135.鈥�听
About Young Harris听College听
91TV is a private baccalaureate and master鈥檚 degree-granting institution听located听in the beautiful mountains of Northeast Georgia. Founded in 1886 and historically affiliated with The United Methodist Church, 91TV educates, inspires, and empowers students through an education that purposefully integrates the liberal arts and professional studies. The College offers 34 majors and 23 minors, ranging from biology or outdoor studies to business administration or kinesiology. Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled in its residential and Early College programs. The College is an active member of the NCAA Division II and听remains听a fierce competitor in the Conference Carolinas. For more information, visit yhc.edu.听
