(by Don Meador, Allen County Schools, December 6, 2019)
For the third consecutive year, over 20 families across Allen County will have a new bed this holiday season thanks to a collaborative effort involving students from JROTC, agriculture classes, and the art department at the Allen County-Scottsville High School. This year, the Build-A-Bed project---organized by the JROTC department at AC-SH---constructed 22 beds to help provide a good night’s sleep for individuals in need.
“We take a bed for granted,” noted Col. Ron Turner, JROTC instructor at the high school. “You’ll find situations where people have always slept on the couch. Then they get a bed and it’s a life-changing event.”
Young lives are
being touched and changed by the ongoing project. Turner identified a student
who received a bed and mattresses this year and noted the change that could be
seen in the student in recent weeks.
“I don’t have to sleep on the floor anymore,” explained the beaming student. “It feels good to have a bed. I’m in a comfortable spot now. I needed a bed because there was stuff going on and I was just sleeping on the floor. It’s a great thing to have my own bed to sleep in every night.”
The student was
very appreciative of the work of his peers who helped change his life
situation.
“It was amazing to get a bed,” the student added. “I am so happy that I don’t have to sleep on the floor anymore.”
The project is
funded in part by donations from individuals, community members, and churches. Collected
funds help purchase materials to build the beds, buy brand-new mattresses for
each bed, and obtain bed accessories such as pillows, sheets, and blankets.
“JROTC buys the materials, agricultural and JROTC students will build them, and the art department paints them,” Col. Turner added. “This is our third year and we have probably handed out 75 beds.”
This year,
approximately 200 high school students assisted in some way in work on the
project.
Donations of bed
supplies have also been received from individuals and churches as well.
“The churches have really helped,” Turner added. “I really have to thank them. It’s incredible to see the love and the wiliness that people have to want to help. It’s amazing.”
Friday, December 6, was
delivery day as officials from the Allen County-Scottsville High School delivered
bed frames, mattresses, and accessories to the homes of recipients across the community.