Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack O’connell
Hi Jack, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have a little ADHD. Sometimes when I try to sleep my mind starts racing and I can’t fall asleep. I’ve figured out a way to fix this. When I get in bed, I put an earbud in my ear and turn on some podcast. I start listening to the podcast and that takes my mind off everything. I might listen to the first few minutes but then I fall asleep. One night I woke at 3 am ish and stuck the earbud in my ear. I was listening to a Mike Rowe podcast, He was interviewing Luke MIckleson from Sleep In Heavenly Peace. I became entralled with the story about building and delivering beds to bedless kids in the community. When I got up the next morning, Saturday morning, I looked up Sleep In Heavenly Peace and submitted an email about getting involved as a leader. Monday morning around 9 am I was sitting at my desk planning my day when the phone rang. It was Skip Sevier, Southeast Director of Sleep In Heavenly Peace. He said “Jack, I got up this morning and checked my email. There were two. The first was from the current chapter president of Sleep In Heavenly Peace Charleston, resigning. The second was yours, asking for info on being a leader. And so my story begins. https://facebook.com/ReturningTheFavor/video/2020109721593621/
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been mostly smooth. I got a lot of help from Skip, and they sent me out to Utah to go to managers training. I learned a lot there. I have struggled to establish a core team of volunteers, but I’m in a good situation now.
We’ve been impressed with Sleep In Heavenly Peace, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Sleep In Heavenly Peace is a 501C with over 300 Chapters across the United States. We build and deliver beds to kids who are bedless. Our motto is “NO Kid Sleeps On The Floor In Our Town”. We are 100% volunteer organization. To get a bed you need to apply. Our only condition for getting a bed is the age of the child. The child must be between the ages of 7 and 17. Those are the only conditions.
shpbeds.org/apply/
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
When you take the path God has laid out for you, He will reward you.
Pricing:
- Beds are free
- They come with mattresses and bedding
- Limited area of delivery based on zip code
- All volunteer organization
- Supported by donations
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shpbeds.org/chapter/sc-charleston/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/shpsccharleston/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/SHPCharleston
