Jacksonville, AL – As originally written by Aden Kastens of JSU’s Media Department, more than 190 students from Jacksonville State University (Jax State) came together on Saturday, March 1, to make a meaningful difference in the lives of local children. Volunteering their time and effort, the students worked to ensure that children in need have a basic necessity many take for granted—a bed to sleep in.
The event, hosted by the Lambda Sigma Honor Society, was held in partnership with Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), a nonprofit dedicated to the mission that “No kid sleeps on the floor in our town.” Starting with raw lumber, volunteers cut, drilled, branded, and stained each piece before assembling a total of 65 beds. Over the coming weeks, those beds will be hand-delivered to local children who currently do not have a bed of their own.
The initiative was first introduced to the Beta Pi chapter of Lambda Sigma in 2019 by Emily Barfield, a former chapter president who now works as a counselor. Barfield was originally inspired by a deep passion for service and social work. Reflecting on the origins of the project, she explained, “We started with a book drive, but what’s the point in books if you have nowhere to read them? We thought about what else we could do and found Sleep in Heavenly Peace. From there, all we had to do was provide donations, people, and space to create the beds.”
Bringing the initiative to life presented challenges, particularly because of the university’s size and the difficulty of securing donations from local businesses. The situation was further complicated when the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the project’s launch. However, the event has since grown into the Beta Pi chapter’s main philanthropic initiative, and it continues to make a lasting impact on both the community and the students involved.
Returning to the event she helped establish was a sentimental moment for Barfield. “It’s been amazing to see how much everybody has grown and to witness the development of the university and the chapter,” she said. “I think, from here on, the bed drive will continue to thrive and grow. We built 60 or more beds today, so I can only imagine that number continuing to increase. The possibilities are endless, and this event proves there are so many ways to help our community.”
Barfield offered advice to those looking to continue the tradition: “Stick with it. Let businesses know how they can help, gain support from the community, and steward the event well when passing the torch. That’s key to growing any service project, especially one as community-centered as this.”
This year’s Bed Drive was made possible through the support of several organizations and local businesses, including the Jax State Social Work Student Organization, Jax State Financial Management Association Student Organization, Jax State Fraternity and Sorority Life Community, Jax State Honors Program, Jax State Football Team, Jacksonville First United Methodist Church, McDonald’s of Jacksonville, Jack’s of Jacksonville, Jefferson’s of Jacksonville, Whataburger of Jacksonville, Chick-fil-A of Jacksonville, BGTV Studios of Trussville, Evelyn Moon Children’s Services, Sleep in Heavenly Peace Gadsden Chapter, and friends and family members of Lambda Sigma.
Through their collective efforts, dozens of children in the community will soon have a safe and comfortable place to sleep, proving once again that small actions can lead to a lasting impact.
