More than a dozen Fayetteville-Manlius High School students recently picked up sanders, drills, hammers and nails to help build wooden bunk beds for local families in need.
Eighteen students recently spent time volunteering their handiwork at the Syracuse chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), which is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to building, assembling and delivering beds for community children who go to sleep each night on couches, blankets or even the floor because they do not have a bed of their own.
Most of the participating students found out about the volunteer opportunity through F-M math teacher Dina Kushnir, who regularly talks with her classes about the importance of giving back and helping others. It was during one of these regular conversations that SHP was discussed and volunteer plans were made, Kushnir said.
“Students were eager to step up and make a collective difference,” Kushnir said. “Some invited their friends to help, and a parent joined us, too.”
During their time at SHP, students after learning basic construction tips made 20 complete bunk beds and laid the framework for five more beds. They also learned about the organization, including how their efforts will make a difference in Central New York and how to continue their involvement with SHP.
Since its first bed build project in 2018, SHP’s Syracuse chapter has delivered more than 2,200 bunk beds to local children in need.
Check out the slideshow to see students in action at SHP.
