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NO KID SLEEPS ON THE FLOOR IN OUR TOWN!
There are moments on this podcast when the conversationshifts from storytelling to something deeper — something tender, urgent, and universally human. This episode is one of those moments.
In this episode, Donna Ritchie and Jerry Sheldon, leaderswith Sleep in Heavenly Peace, share how a bed becomes much more than furniture. It becomes warmth. Stability. Safety. A sense of belonging. A soft place for a child to land after days that are sometimes heavier than any childshould carry.
Across the United States, more than 150,000 childrenhave no bed of their own — a number that feels impossible until you hear Donna and Jerry speak about what they see every week here in Western New York. In our own backyard, hundreds of children lay their heads down on floors,couches, or borrowed spaces night after night. Rochester’s waitlist is around 300 kids. Buffalo’s approaches 700.
This is not a far-away issue.
It’s happening in our neighborhoods, our schools, our communities.
And yet — the heart of this episode is not about what’smissing.
It’s about the love that shows up to fill the gap.
Donna and Jerry talk about the small details — the handmadeframes, the safe stain used to protect the wood, the bedding volunteers lovingly choose — because when you’re giving a child a bed, everything matters. They share moments from delivery days that stay with them: the look on a child’s face when they see their new bed, the way a parent’s shouldersfinally drop in relief, the joy of matching a little girl’s wish for unicorn bedding.
And woven through every story is the same message:
Love is the driving force behind this work.
Love for children who deserve rest.
Love for families who need support.
Love for a community that rallies when the need is great.
This episode is a reminder that sometimes the mostmeaningful change comes from the most basic human needs — a safe place to sleep, and people who care enough to make sure every child has it.
Thank you Jerry and Donna for sharing the story of Sleep inHeavenly Peace’s mission across the US, and those incredible needs here in WNY.
Links to where you will find additional information on Sleep in Heavenly Peace:
Home - Sleep in HeavenlyPeace
https://bit.ly/SHPNY-ROC
Sleep inHeavenly Peace - Buffalo Chapter
Sleep inHeavenly Peace - Rochester Chapter
Donna Ritchie Bio:
My husband and I learned about Sleep in Heavenly Peace alittle over 6 years ago after a conversation with one of our daughters. We were talking about kids in need, and she said she had friends in Michigan who build beds for kids. After looking into it, we were both intrigued. We were newlyempty nesters, so we thought we had some extra time on our hands. The next thing we knew, we were on our way to chapter president training.
Our first delivery was Christmas Eve 2019. We delivered 2beds to twin 6-year-olds. Since then, we’ve had a nice family tradition of delivering beds with our 2 daughters every Christmas Eve. In total, our chapter has delivered over 1300 beds to local kids.
Our chapter delivers approximately 300 beds per year.
Both my husband and I (and many of our volunteers) work fulltime jobs. My husband is an engineer and I’m an event planner.
I’d like people to know that anyone can help by eitherparticipating in a build or donating.
Jerry Sheldon Bio:
Jerry and Mary Jo Sheldon, along with Rick and Betsy DiVitaformed the Buffalo chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace in 2019. It was August of 2020 that SHP Buffalo delivered its first bed to a child in Buffalo. Currently SHP Buffalo has delivered over 5100 beds.
Jerry has been active in the WNY community aa volunteer,board members and active citizen working to improve the lives of fellow WNYers. He is a retired engineer havingworked in a corporate environment, owned a small business, and led a non-profit.
View all episodes
By Emily CarlsonThere are moments on this podcast when the conversationshifts from storytelling to something deeper — something tender, urgent, and universally human. This episode is one of those moments.
In this episode, Donna Ritchie and Jerry Sheldon, leaderswith Sleep in Heavenly Peace, share how a bed becomes much more than furniture. It becomes warmth. Stability. Safety. A sense of belonging. A soft place for a child to land after days that are sometimes heavier than any childshould carry.
Across the United States, more than 150,000 childrenhave no bed of their own — a number that feels impossible until you hear Donna and Jerry speak about what they see every week here in Western New York. In our own backyard, hundreds of children lay their heads down on floors,couches, or borrowed spaces night after night. Rochester’s waitlist is around 300 kids. Buffalo’s approaches 700.
This is not a far-away issue.
It’s happening in our neighborhoods, our schools, our communities.
And yet — the heart of this episode is not about what’smissing.
It’s about the love that shows up to fill the gap.
Donna and Jerry talk about the small details — the handmadeframes, the safe stain used to protect the wood, the bedding volunteers lovingly choose — because when you’re giving a child a bed, everything matters. They share moments from delivery days that stay with them: the look on a child’s face when they see their new bed, the way a parent’s shouldersfinally drop in relief, the joy of matching a little girl’s wish for unicorn bedding.
And woven through every story is the same message:
Love is the driving force behind this work.
Love for children who deserve rest.
Love for families who need support.
Love for a community that rallies when the need is great.
This episode is a reminder that sometimes the mostmeaningful change comes from the most basic human needs — a safe place to sleep, and people who care enough to make sure every child has it.
Thank you Jerry and Donna for sharing the story of Sleep inHeavenly Peace’s mission across the US, and those incredible needs here in WNY.
Links to where you will find additional information on Sleep in Heavenly Peace:
Home - Sleep in HeavenlyPeace
https://bit.ly/SHPNY-ROC
Sleep inHeavenly Peace - Buffalo Chapter
Sleep inHeavenly Peace - Rochester Chapter
Donna Ritchie Bio:
My husband and I learned about Sleep in Heavenly Peace alittle over 6 years ago after a conversation with one of our daughters. We were talking about kids in need, and she said she had friends in Michigan who build beds for kids. After looking into it, we were both intrigued. We were newlyempty nesters, so we thought we had some extra time on our hands. The next thing we knew, we were on our way to chapter president training.
Our first delivery was Christmas Eve 2019. We delivered 2beds to twin 6-year-olds. Since then, we’ve had a nice family tradition of delivering beds with our 2 daughters every Christmas Eve. In total, our chapter has delivered over 1300 beds to local kids.
Our chapter delivers approximately 300 beds per year.
Both my husband and I (and many of our volunteers) work fulltime jobs. My husband is an engineer and I’m an event planner.
I’d like people to know that anyone can help by eitherparticipating in a build or donating.
Jerry Sheldon Bio:
Jerry and Mary Jo Sheldon, along with Rick and Betsy DiVitaformed the Buffalo chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace in 2019. It was August of 2020 that SHP Buffalo delivered its first bed to a child in Buffalo. Currently SHP Buffalo has delivered over 5100 beds.
Jerry has been active in the WNY community aa volunteer,board members and active citizen working to improve the lives of fellow WNYers. He is a retired engineer havingworked in a corporate environment, owned a small business, and led a non-profit.