HURON — There was the hum of contented activity in the air Saturday morning, in the large shop of Todd and Marsha Thomas on the far southwest corner of Huron. Sanders, saws and drills were the consistent background track to spirited, upbeat conversation.

Because everyone there, dozens of volunteers, knew at the end of the day they had been a part of making things just that much better for their community. At the end of the day, a large trailer of lumber was transformed into the frames of 20 twin-size beds, with the pieces carefully made to the specifications of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an international organization for which the Huron chapter began work independently approximately a year and a half ago.

More on SHP in a bit.

Most of those in attendance are members of Riverview United Methodist Church in town and Saturday’s work session was the result of a change in how the church members approached the funding of missions, according to Pastor Theresa Person.

“We made the decision to make funding our missions projects differently,” said Person as she took a break from building bed frames. “Our missions in the past were ‘pocket-change’ funded, basically when we collected we received what people had in pocket change.”

Starting at the beginning of the year, however, the church opted to concentrating on one mission project per quarter and focused on building funds for that specific project.

“Some of our members had been involved with other Sleep in Heavenly Peace builds and I had some experience with the organization while I was in Brookings.”

The decision was made and a goal was set — raise $750 — enough for three beds.

“As we went along our goal was far surpassed,” Person said. “Barbara (Lorenz, the main catalyst in the Huron SHP chapter) brought a bed into the church and set it up, so people could see what could be done with their donations.”

“We ended up raising just over $4,300 in the quarter!” Person said.

When a signup sheet went up in the church for Saturday’s build, the slots filled quickly and Person said that she was overjoyed at the turnout of her members and some of their friends.

“Our goal as a congregation is to be the hands and feet of Christ,” she said. “And I feel this is a prime example of that.”

Since the Huron chapter began, Lorenz and a key core of other volunteers have had a notable impact on the community. Lorenz began working with the SHP chapter in Brookings and partnered with them on a bed build before Huron was granted its own chapter.

“Last year,” she said, “we built and delivered 89 beds in the area. Our goal this year is to fund, build and deliver 125 beds to kids in need. Through April of this year alone, we have delivered 80 beds and today’s build and delivery will add 20 to that total.”

She noted that the $250 cost to build a bed covers everything needed: lumber, screws, nuts and bolts, slats, mattress, sheets, pillow, pillowcase and quilt on top. “Even the sandpaper is factored into the cost,” she said.

Saturday was an assembly line of activity. Two saws cut the 2x6s, 2x4s and 1x4s quickly down to prescribed sizes. Each piece of wood was given a quick sanding and passed on to the next step. Jigs fit over the wood, determining that holes are drilled precisely where they need to be, then head boards and footboards are constructed.

Slats are laid in a frame and a heavy flat plastic strip is attaches them together at precise measurements with a stapler, then gathered and plastic wrapped together.

The end of the process sees stain applied to pieces, along with the SHP logo.

“We have been fortunate with donations,” Lorenz said, “because money drives it all.”

She noted that the chapter is seeing more interest, she feels due to better exposure. “Department of Social Services and Headstart have helped promote what we do and a flyer for Sleep in Heavenly Peace was approved to go out in the kids backpacks from the school”

She said that the school had lent a hand as well, providing Karen and Spanish interpretations for the flyer as well.

“Our motto is ‘No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town,’” Lorenz said, “and thanks to donations and hard work by Riverview Church, there are going to be just that many fewer when we deliver these beds.”

To learn more about donating toward, or volunteering for the Huron chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, check them out online at www.shpbeds.org/chapter/sd-huron/ or call 844-432-2337, ext. 5581.