CoastHills employees build more than 100 beds for local children
CoastHills Credit Union employees gather with volunteers from the Northern Santa Barbara County chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace during Community Impact Day at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge.
Volunteers spent the Indigenous Peoples’ Day holiday building beds with Sleep in Heavenly Peace
– A total of 150 CoastHills Credit Union employees spent their day off on Monday, Oct. 12, building 105 beds for local children at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge, according to the credit union.
The effort was part of CoastHills’ annual Community Impact Day and its partnership with the Northern Santa Barbara County chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, which had more than 80 children on its waiting list for beds. Working in teams, employees measured, sanded, drilled, and assembled the beds alongside 18 chapter volunteers. CoastHills also helped pay for mattresses, bedding, and pillows.
“Our vision — making a difference in our neighbors’ lives — is more than words and donations. It means rolling up our sleeves and doing the work,” said James Ledford, president and CEO of CoastHills Credit Union. “Our employees gave their time and energy to a physically demanding project because they know how much it matters for a child to have a bed of their own.”
“Every child deserves a bed, but many families in our community face circumstances that make that difficult,” said Colleen Grant, co-president of the chapter.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace is a nonprofit that builds and delivers beds to children who do not have one. CoastHills, founded on Vandenberg Air Force Base in 1958, operates 11 Central Coast branches. In August, the credit union funded $20,000 in scholarships for local college students.
For more information about Sleep in Heavenly Peace, visit shpbeds.org.
