Diane Fjeld, chapter president of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) Manitoba-Interlake, launched the province’s second branch of the U.S.-based nonprofit last summer. The organization constructs and delivers beds to children aged 3–17 who lack proper sleeping arrangements due to poverty, displacement, or crisis.
Fjeld spent nearly a year recruiting volunteers and establishing logistics before opening applications last week. The rural chapter—Canada’s first outside an urban centre—serves a vast region from Fisher River First Nation to Stonewall.
"I opened the online portal to accept bed applications for the first time last week," Fjeld says. "We’re in the infancy stages, but we’re fully operational right now."
From garage builds to urgent deliveries
Volunteers assemble bed parts in Fjeld’s Gimli-area garage using pre-made jigs and templates, storing components until delivery. A core team of eight manages operations, supported by 20 part-time helpers. Early “practice beds” were urgently deployed after a house fire left two children without beds on Valentine’s Day.
The group partners with Smitty’s Furniture for discounted mattresses and Casey Lumber for materials. Quilts and bedding come from local donors.
Tackling rural challenges
Fjeld notes geography complicates outreach. The chapter’s ROC postal code zone spans 18,000 square kilometres, requiring creative volunteer coordination.
“People say things like, ‘How many kids need beds to sleep in?’” Fjeld adds. “I got nine applications the first day I opened [the portal]. There is a need out there.”
Domestic violence survivors, newcomers, and families recovering from disasters dominate requests. SHP prioritizes swift delivery, aiming to prevent backlogs as demand grows.
Community-driven solutions
Fjeld credits grassroots support for early success. Mini-build events attract 12 volunteers at a time, producing 5–10 beds in hours.
“We started small, so we do little mini-builds in our garage,” Fjeld continues. “Everything is done to a pattern.”
Donations and details are available at [website], with delivery teams now active across the Interlake. Fjeld emphasizes SHP’s motto—“No child sleeps on the floor in our town”—reflects its hyper-local focus.
Their contact number is (204) 641-5297