Jun 12, 2025 — Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Bulletin for June 12, 2025

Featured Speaker: Danny Butts

Sleep in Heavenly Peace — Building Beds for Children in Need Across Colorado Springs

OPENING

Paula led the prayer and Mike led the Pledge of Allegiance.

CLUB BUSINESS

• Club Donation: The club presented a check to Mandy Pittman from Colorado Hand Camp — our donation enabled two Colorado Springs children to attend this year.

• Hand Camp 2025: Scheduled August 2. Registration closes June 15. 47 families registered (47 children with limb differences, 20 siblings). Camp at Buell Mansion.

• New Board Ceremony: June 28, 2025. Members invited to sign up and help with food. Real Cuban cigars from Florida will be provided.

• Rodeo Tickets: 21 tickets acquired. No extras available.

• Christmas Party: Kevin, Barb, and others exploring the Peel House (up to 50), Theo House at First Lutheran, and the El Paso Club.

• Health Update: Marty is playing golf at Kissing Camels; Pete is out of the hospital after heart issues.

KEYNOTE: DANNY BUTTS — SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE (SHP)

Danny Butts is President of the Colorado Springs Chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace and the national director of SHP marketing. SHP's mission: provide beds for children who don't have one. Approximately 38,000 Colorado Springs children — 2–3% of the city's population — may be sleeping without a proper bed.

Scale and Growth

• Colorado Springs chapter started in 2018; over 700 beds delivered total

• 287 beds delivered last year — double 2024, which was itself double 2023

• National total: over 273,845 beds delivered across the U.S.

• Comparison: San Antonio (8,000), Phoenix (6,000), Buffalo (5,000)

• Local record: 101 beds delivered in one day at a Lowe's build

How It Works

Families apply online at the SHP website. Children aged 3–17 are eligible; foster care and agency referrals are prioritized. Applications are vetted by phone. Currently 60 children are on the waiting list, down from a spike of 210 last July.

Beds are built by volunteers at organized builds ranging from 4–5 people to 177 participants (producing up to 100 beds in a day). All tools and PPE provided. Deliveries are made by volunteers using personal trucks — teams can be as small as two people.

Volunteers and Partners

SHP engages schools, youth groups, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Eagle Scouts, Air Force Academy cadets, churches, and sports groups. The warehouse is at Powers and Galley. An upcoming build with Kiwanis is scheduled, led by Jodi and Barrett.

Costs

• Total cost per bed: $250

• Mattresses: $70–$80 + freight (imported; costs rising)

• Minimum sponsorship: $250/bed

• T-Mobile via Benevity is one corporate volunteer partner

"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth."

— Muhammad Ali

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