GFWC Alabama North District program features bed provision program

The fall GWC meeting for the Alabama north district featured guest speaker, Mara Ena Heath, director of the Huntsville Sleep in Heavenly Peace organization. Luke and Heidi Mickelson of Kimberly, Idaho, founded the organization in 2012.

It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that builds and delivers beds to children who don’t have beds to sleep in. SHP’s theme is “No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in our Town.” The organization has 200 chapters around the United States and has built more than 100,000 beds. Each bed costs $250, including the cost of the mattress, bedding and other materials.

“SHP believes that a bed is a basic need for the proper physical, emotional and mental support that a child needs,” Heath said. “When it was brought to our attention that the need for beds went far beyond our own neighborhoods, we stepped up and took initiative. We’re a national organization answering the call to a national problem. We’re always looking for volunteers to build bunks, go on bed deliveries, be vocal advocates for our mission and start new SHP Chapters in other communities.”

Many of the north district clubs and clubwomen presented supplies such as new twin sheets, pillows, bedding and monetary donations. Another service project included creating goody bags for “everyday heroes” in support of the AFWC president’s special projects.

The meeting took place at Trinity United Methodist Church in Huntsville with Christi Robinson, North District director, presiding. GFWC Alabama state officers, distric committee chairs and district club presidents gave reports. Patricia Cox, Cheri McCain and I represented the GFWC Book Lovers Study Club.

The business session included discussion of the GFWC Southern Region Conference, which will be held in Biloxi, Miss., Oct. 26-29. Attendees voted on endorsement of district members running for Alabama state office and nominating delegates.

The host club, duMidi Woman’s Club, served a delicious lunch. A silent auction helped raise money for the district scholarship. At the last silent auction, the scholarship fund grew by $821.

The meeting concluded with presentation of door prizes and the reading of the collect.