IT TAKES TWO … Karen and Bob Harberson assemble the sanded pieces into headboards at the Delta Community Let’s Build Beds Event. (PHOTO BY AMY WENDT, STAFF)
By: Amy Wendt
On Saturday, October 15, 2022 North Star BlueScope Steel and Pike-Delta-York Schools co-sponsored a Delta Community Bed Build.
Several members of the community, including students, parents, Boy Scouts and civic group members joined together under a large tent on the school grounds to build twin beds for children in need. In total, 130 beds were built at the event.
The tent operated like a well-oiled machine in assembly line fashion.
The work started at one end of the tent where adults cut planks to size with circular saws before sending down the line to children and their parents who would sand each board.
A group of Delta high school students then assembled the sanded pieces into headboards, footboards and loaded the finished components onto trailers.
Four of the beds made at today’s event were delivered to the homes of local children in need.
For Keith Neubert, Delivery Captain for Let’s Build Beds, it is his way to give back.
He remembers as a child, he too had to sleep on the floor because he did not have a bed so “never forget where you come from,” he says.
Let’s Build Beds is a non-profit organization whose motto is “Every child deserves a bed,” partners with churches and various groups to hold “bed build” events.
The group was founded by Mike and Shawna Horvath around four years ago after being inspired by a YouTube video starring TV host Mike Rowe featuring a similar bed building organization in Idaho.
LBB holds service events two times per month during the months of April through November. To date, the group has made over 3,200 beds for area children in need.
The non-profit group’s service area includes Williams, Fulton, Henry, Defiance Counties in Ohio and also serves part of Michigan.
To receive a bed from Let’s Build Beds, there are no formal income requirements.
The goal of the organization is to simply help ensure that all children between the ages of 3 and 17 have a bed of their own and do not have to sleep on the floor.
The waitlist for a bed can range from 600 – 1100 names however the group has found that if they deliver 25 beds per week, they are able to keep the waitlist closer to 600 names.
According to co-director Dan Pellizzari, LBB works to “build communities up to be the change they want to see in the world.”
In addition to building beds for children, the non-profit aims to offer an opportunity to give back and to learn some new skills in the process.
“Anybody can participate” continues Pellizzari, and no building skills are needed. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are encouraged and there is a job for everyone.
In addition to monetary donations, Let’s Build Beds accepts new pillows and new twin size bedding.
For more information on receiving a bed or volunteer opportunities, visit www.letsbuild.org.
Amy can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com