Group building beds for needy children got to work Monday in La Crosse

Within just three hours Monday, a crew in La Crosse assembled 30 new beds to be used by area children in need. Doing so, in a downtown La Crosse parking lot.

It’s part of a nationwide project called Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP).

La Crosse County organizer Mike Suchla said SHP has been active in La Crosse County for about five years.

“I saw a story about it, and I thought about it for quite some time, checked with a few people, made sure I could get some support, and just decided, (it was) something I wanted to do,” Suchla said.

What happens is sponsoring businesses or groups can bring in the building crews for a day and take part in the effort to meet the requests that are made by area families.

“Set up a time that works to deliver, and when we deliver, they get a full bed,” Suchla said. “They get frame, mattress, pillow, bedding, comforter, so when we walk out, they’re ready to go to bed.”

Monday’s construction outside Marine Credit Union increased the number of La Crosse area beds the group has built this year to about 120.

Suchla noted that more than 500 beds in all have been assembled in the county through the program.

SHP has 20 chapters at sites around Wisconsin, including La Crosse, Vernon and Trempealeau Counties.