Building Beds Leads to Immeasurable Impact!
/It is a wonder to see an idea grow into reality. In the fall of 2024, I [Amy] proposed a then-messy concept to Kristina Paul, Connections Coordinator at Concordia Kirkwood, to build a bed for New American families. The idea was to put children in raised beds – a change from the usual clean and soft bed mats that were placed on floors to sleep on. With a resounding “YES!” from Kristina, the idea came to life.
When one of the volunteers, Bob Grotha, first heard about the project, he jumped on board, designing twin over full bed frame structures. Many families from Concordia donated mattresses and bedding to fit the beds, and over 30 people volunteered at the Build-a-Bed Workshop in April to sand, cut, drill, and prepare the wood to be made into bunk beds.
The following Saturday, several teams visited 6 refugee homes to construct and install bunk beds. The children were full of excitement as they carried in the materials while the men and boys assisted with the construction and the women hospitably served tea. It was a day of communities serving one another with the love of Jesus present all around.
The idea that started as a ‘what if’ in the fall, bloomed into an incredible service project. While the hours of work required to make Build-a-Bed a possibility extended far beyond my expectations, it was well worth it considering the immeasurable impact made by Concordia Kirkwood and the volunteer teams.
By Amy Zeigler
CFNA Community Engagement Coordinator
