Delivering dreams: Lincoln group brings 45 beds to kids in need

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — With almost 8,800 kids across the capital city sleeping on the floor, the Lincoln chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace is stepping up to make that number drop.

“There’s always people out there that we want to help, and we’ll build the beds as fast as we can to get them out,” Co-director Doug Obermeier said.

In just one month, St. Mark’s Methodist Church raised $104,000 for the group.

A few weeks later, 300 volunteers came together to build 140 beds.

On Saturday, nine groups delivered 45 of those beds to around more than a dozen families across Lincoln.

“We’re going to meet them wherever they’re at,” Obermeier said. “Most of the time, they’re so appreciative, they’re so grateful. Some of the kids are shy, but then when they see that they’re having a bed that they’re going to be able to sleep in tonight, they get so excited.”

Obermeier has been a part of the mission for a little over a year now.

He said seeing the families light up when they get their new bed is what makes all of the hard work worth it.

“We usually get more out of it than they do,” he said. “Just to see that it’s making a difference not only in their life, but in the community. That is the other important aspect of this – we’re not just getting kids off the floor, we’re bringing communities together and making them stronger.”

He said the group wants to further the mission and help even more families.

“We’re just doing as much as we can,” he said. “We just started a little over a year ago, and we have now built over 370 beds. And after today, we will have delivered 180. We hope to empty our inventory before we start our build season again next March.”