Deacon community gathers to build 18 children's beds

By DAWN PROSSER
Director of Communications
 
Members of the diocesan permanent deacon community participated in a service day Feb. 7 in Sioux City at Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), building safe and comfortable beds for children in need. The organization’s motto is, “No kid sleeps on the floor in our town!”
 
Deacons, one wife and men in formation for the diaconate from Sioux City, Orange City, Storm Lake and Carroll spent the morning preparing the components to build 18 beds for children in northwest Iowa in need of a bed.
 
The cohort of the four men to be ordained this August planned the community work day. It was originally scheduled for December 2025 but was postponed due to inclement weather.
 
Organizer Kevin Holzman of Orange City and member of Alton St. Donatus Parish said volunteering at SHP seemed like a good fit for a group service project.
 
“It’s a pretty easy thing to do and it’s something the whole community could get involved in,” he said.
Fellow organizer Will Swanson of Storm Lake explained he felt the mission of SHP aligns with church teaching regarding dignity of human beings. 
“Having a bed is as close to a human right as possible. To have a place to lay your head is super important to human dignity,” he said.
 
The work
Elise Morris, core team member of the Sioux City chapter, told the deacon community that their work at the nonprofit helps SHP families in their communities.
 
“We can’t serve the community without you,” she said. “You represent a big chuck of the broad service area … the beds you build impact your communities – thank you.”
 
Volunteers sanded lumber for the beds, dipped the boards into tubs of finishing stain, branded some of the boards and assembled the lumber into bed frames.
Morris explained SHP has work suitable for men, women and children of all ages and all abilities. SHP can provide jobs for children and families and for volunteers who are unable to stand for long periods of time.
 Will Swanson of Storm LakeThe Sioux City chapter has been in operation for four years and welcomes volunteer groups for assembly and delivery of the beds straight to the children’s homes. Morris said SHP deliveries are “the best part.”
 
“It’s life-changing for the whole family,” she said.
 
“You get to interact with the kids,” added Meredith Davies-Vogt, chapter president. “It’s a magical day with them.”
 
Morris pointed out the Le Mars area SHP delivery hub started through the Le Mars area Knights of Columbus members. There are other delivery hubs in the diocese including Orange City and Storm Lake with plans to develop others.
 
Fundraising
Each complete bed has a value of $250 with the mattress and lumber being the most expensive components. Morris told the deacon community volunteers that SHP raises funds during Lent with the assistance of churches from different denominations with a wish list tree placed in church entryways and lobbies. The trees have envelopes with wish list items for parishioners to purchase and bring back to the church before Holy Week.
 
Project organizer Jeff Schoep of Sioux City Mater Dei Parish said his parish participated in the SHP tree project during Lent for the past two to three years, with an “awesome response” from the parishioners.


 The deacon community members said they enjoyed being part of the SHP project in order to support those in need.
 
“It was just the right thing to do and to give back to the community,” Schoep said.
 
Sioux City Cathedral parishioner Jorge Solozano was accepted into formation last fall and said he was motivated to participate in the SHP service day in order to assist those in need.
 
“It feels good to help someone else,” he said.
 
Swanson said he is grateful to all the members who attended the February work day and is hopeful that more can join them for future service projects.
 
“More hands help us to do more,” he said.
 
Additional volunteers from the deacon community included Deacon Will Fergen of Mater Dei Parish in Sioux City, Deacon Hector Mora of Storm Lake, Deacon Tom Morgan of Sacred Heart Parish in Sioux City, Deacon Tim and Sue Murphy of St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll, Deacon Mark Prosser of Cathedral Parish in Sioux City and Jeff Zyzda, deacon candidate from Mater Dei Parish in Sioux City.
 
To learn more about Sleep in Heavenly Peace or to volunteer or contribute, go to www.shpbeds.org.

​Cover photo - Deacon Hector Mora sanding lumber at Sleep in Heavenly Peace.​

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