Sleep in Heavenly Peace

“Thank you! I’ve never had my own bed before!” These simple words bring a plethora of emotions to Dave and Lisa Tentinger, organizers of Spirit Lake’s chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

“There are lot of children who have nothing and whose families are doing their best to provide or maybe lost everything during the flood,” Dave said. “When we bring them a brand-new bed – it’s personal and their own safe place. It’s really touching.”

The idea of not having your own bed is foreign to many, but many times circumstances create different scenarios or beds are shared with siblings, a couch is used or living space is limited. Since the Tentinger’s started Sleep in Heavenly Peace in the Iowa Great Lakes area in June 2024, they’ve delivered 78 beds and have 50 beds in inventory. In the last few months, they have been able to deliver more beds to Spencer, as families have slowly been able to resettle in different places or moved into a new home.

Passion for Others

Recently retired, Dave and Lisa read about Sleep in Heavenly Peace in the newspaper and its mission tugged at their hearts. Dave grew up in LeMars and met Lisa while attending the University of Iowa. Now, married 38 years, the couple has been traveling to the Iowa Great Lakes
region for vacation their entire lives.

“We’ve always loved the area and being able to come to the Lake for family annual visits. Once we retired, we live half the year in Spirit Lake and the other half in Chicago and we wanted to give back to this community,” Dave shared. “We always were involved with different nonprofits before but now appreciate the opportunity to be more hands-on. Plus, I love woodworking and helping kids.”

The first beds the Tentinger’s built were in July 2024. They had yet to build a single bed when the devastating flood impacted the Iowa Great Lakes area, especially in Spencer. Throughout the summer, with the help of numerous volunteers, the couple began building beds out of their shop at their Spirit Lake home.

“Currently, building beds works better in the summer time as it’s a warm weather exercise,” Lisa said. “But we are able to take applications year-round and deliver new beds, mattresses and bedding throughout the year.”

She went on to say, “the idea of not having a bed is a strange concept especially for this area. You think every child has a bed but we are finding this isn’t the case and a real concern for some families.”

Sleep in Heavenly Peace – Spirit Lake Chapter mainly operates through Facebook and word of mouth. A QR code or via shpbeds.org/apply directs people towards the application that once received is vetted through Lisa.

“We never turn anyone away and it doesn’t matter what your socioeconomic status may be. If someone needs a bed, they are going to get a bed,” she added. “Anyone can apply: parents, case worker, caring individuals. It’s super easy and just asks for basic information like child’s name and age.”

Building Beds

Building the twin beds takes place during three-hour build segments by volunteers throughout the summer. Dave has raw lumber brought in, ranging from 2x4, 2x6 and 1x4 wood options. He sets up different stations in preparation for volunteers, who after arrival pick a station and join the assembly process. Whether it’s cutting wood, drilling holes or assembling headboards, they find it goes together really smoothly.

“We build as many as we can in three hours, which is typically 20 beds,” he said. “No experience is required; we will find a place for you. We get a lot of retirees, as well as young adults and teenagers. We were blessed by a No Boundaries group from Okoboji High School this last build.”

Stations include sanding the wood, assembly and then dipping the wood in steel wool and vinegar, which also serves as a stain and seals up the wood.

“It provides a nice color and helps with bed bug repellant,” Dave explained.

Lastly, he said the kids love being able to add the brand, “We have a little fire going, and they take the branding iron and brand the bed. It’s so rewarding to see the finished product at the end of the day.”

Jim and Shari Weideman of Okoboji Mattress Company have enjoyed partnering with the Tentinger’s.

When we heard about what Sleep in Heavenly Peace was doing for kids in need, here locally, we immediately knew we wanted to be part of it,” Shari said. “We love kids and our business is all about helping people sleep more comfortably.”

Okoboji Mattress Company started by donating some mattresses to the cause and had the opportunity to deliver them personally to a family that was still recovering from the flood in Spencer. “Seeing the kids receive their very own beds for the first time was an incredible experience, one that truly puts things in perspective,” Jim said.

Shari and her son Casey also were a part of several bed builds over the summer. They said there’s something special about working alongside others for a cause bigger than yourself. “The time and effort it takes for someone to help is small compared to the lasting difference it makes for those kids, knowing they’ll have their own bed to sleep on every night because of it.”

Besides new mattresses, each child receives new bedding with their new bed, including sheets, pillow cases, comforter or a handmade quilt. Lisa said a number of local ladies have donated new homemade quilts made especially for the cause.

“We need bedding for ages 3 years to 17 years, which is a wide range and a wide range of different. A little child’s bedding is usually so cute and is what’s often donated. Our biggest expense is purchasing bedding for the older child,” Lisa said. “We want the bedding to be liked and loved by whatever age or gender.”

When an application is received for a child in need, a bed, new mattress and appropriate bedding is compiled and a time for delivery is arranged with the family. Everything is confidential throughout the process.

The Tentinger’s love when they have the opportunity to deliver a bed. At one point this summer, a little girl grabbed Lisa’s legs and hugged her tight, just saying thank you. Another delivery was for a freshman student who was so appreciative. “She told us she had never had her own bed before,” Lisa said. “It was so touching and emotional. It’s pretty amazing to deliver each child their own space. It’s a place where they can relax, sleep, and start their day. It’s their own and means so much to them.”

Dave added that they are only filling one need, one niche in the area but they feel it’s super important. “Having a bed is a health need and many of these families have so many needs and we are just scratching the surface but if we can provide hope in this one space, we are so grateful.”

For any business or community group who would like to come alongside the Tentinger’s, contact them through their Facebook page - facebook.com/SHPSpiritLake or via email at dave.tentinger@shpbeds.org. Individuals who would like to donate towards new bedding or mattresses, they can view the Walmart wish list here: https://tinyurl.com/43md7xfx or the Amazon wish list here: https://tinyurl.com/2bd523xj. The bedding will ship directly to the Tentinger’s. If not able to ship, bedding or donations can be dropped off with Morgan Strauss at the Okoboji Chamber of Commerce.

“During the Christmas season, if you feel led to give back to the community and help a child in need, contact us and we’d love to show how you can help. We are also always looking for volunteers and would welcome a business or community group who’d love to join us in a build,” Dave shared. “We are just grateful for the opportunity to help children in need in our area.”