Oak Forest group, Midlothian library team up to fight ‘bedlessness'

Chicago Tribune

10-02-2025

Dave King and Ed Copher were looking in 2018 for a way to make a difference in their community and found while there were agencies devoted to fighting homelessness, there weren't as many resources available to help people turn housing into homes.
'I didn't realize there was a need but the more I learned, the more I realized 'bedlessness' is not a real word but is a problem in almost every single city across America,' said King.
So the two south suburbanites started a local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, operating at first out of King's garage in Oak Forest and then property rented from St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 14700 Kildare Ave.
Volunteers with the local chapter of the nonprofit — which is nationally based in Idaho — have constructed and given away nearly 800 beds across the Southland, from Chicago Ridge to Chicago Heights. Each bed comes with a sturdy frame, new mattress and pillow, sheets and comforter or a handmade quilt.
'Basically in order to qualify they (recipients) just have to have experienced something throughout their lifetimes that has prevented them from having a bed of their own,' said King.
Each month, volunteers gather to saw, drill and stain raw lumber, fashioning it into finished beds, which are delivered to families sometimes as early as the next day, said King. Between 500 and 1,000 volunteers typically show up.
'It's just a very empowering experience for everybody,' said King.
Copher's reasoning for getting involved was simple.
'I love kids,' said Copher, the local chapter's copresident. 'I want to help kids with whatever they need. We don't just bring them beds, we bring them hope and love.'
Copher said they also try to involve kids in bed-making when they can.
'And before we leave, we tell them that this is their bed and it is their responsibility to keep it in good shape and keep it made,' said Copher.
Their rented property is near Midlothian Public Library, so when library director Jennifer Cottrill heard about the nonprofit at a chamber of commerce meeting, she knew the library needed to help out. Now there's a donation box at the library where people can drop off new pillows to go with the beds created by Sleep in Heavenly Peace.
'Any time I can build goodwill between the different agencies that serve Midlothian, I try to do that,' said Cottrill, who broached the idea to King at that meeting. 'Also in doing it, it's an opportunity to get the word out about the organization.
'It raises awareness, so hopefully if families are in need, they will be aware such an organization exists, and they always need people to build beds … so hopefully people will learn that this is also something they can donate their time to.'
Information about volunteering also is available through Copher at [e-mail].
The library has collected donations for plenty of worthy causes, Cottrill pointed out, including the Kiwanis Club of Crestwood and Oak Forest Area, April Food Day for United Way, and local Girl Scout Troop 65659, now collecting for PAWS of Tinley Park.
New, wrapped pillows may be dropped off in the receptacle in the main part of the library.