FSU, FAMU and Tallahassee State College students plan to build 300 beds for children on Feb. 20. The Big Event needs 500 volunteers and is raising $50,000.
College students in Tallahassee plan to build 300 beds for children who have no bed of their own. The build is set for Saturday, Feb. 20, on Florida State University’s campus.
Students from FSU, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee State College will take part. Organizers hope to recruit 500 student volunteers, FSU said in a release on Tuesday.
The build is part of The Big Event Tallahassee, a student-run community service event celebrating its 20th anniversary. The bed build is a new addition to the event.
Who gets the beds
The Big Event is working with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a national nonprofit. It gives free beds to children who would otherwise sleep on the floor, a sofa or an air mattress. Its Tallahassee chapter has built beds for children in Leon County and the surrounding counties since 2018, FSU said.
Seven of the nonprofit’s chapters are joining the build:
- Tallahassee
- Tampa
- Fort Walton Beach
- Jacksonville
- Albany, Georgia
- Augusta, Georgia
- Savannah, Georgia
The Tallahassee chapter will hand out part of the beds to children in Leon County and nearby communities. Each of the other six chapters will take beds home for children in its own area.
What it costs
Each bed costs about $400 to build, Sleep in Heavenly Peace estimates. That covers the lumber, a mattress, sheets and pillows, so a bed is ready to sleep in on the day it arrives.
The Big Event is trying to raise $50,000. FSU’s Interfraternity Council is helping, and most of its chapters have set up fundraising pages. The organizers are also looking for business sponsors.
“As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Big Event in Tallahassee, our team and volunteers are excited to embrace this opportunity to expand our impact and continue giving back to the communities that have supported us over the years,” said Jake Salem, the group’s executive director.
What it means for you
- You can give now. Donations go through The Big Event’s page on FSU’s Spark site. The organizers want to build as many beds as the money allows.
- Businesses can sponsor the build. The Big Event’s sponsors page explains how, or contact the group’s executive director through the FSU release.
- Students from all three schools are needed. The organizers want 500 volunteers from FSU, FAMU and Tallahassee State College; The Big Event’s website is the place to start.
- Families who need a bed can apply for one on Sleep in Heavenly Peace’s Tallahassee chapter page, which also lists volunteer builds.
Frequently asked questions
When is The Big Event Tallahassee bed build?
Saturday, Feb. 20, on Florida State University’s campus. Organizers want 500 student volunteers to build 300 beds for children.
How can I donate to The Big Event bed build?
Through The Big Event’s page on FSU’s Spark crowdfunding site. Each bed costs about $400 to build, including the mattress, sheets and pillows, and the goal is $50,000. Businesses can sponsor the event through The Big Event Tallahassee.
Where do the beds go?
Sleep in Heavenly Peace’s Tallahassee chapter will give some of the beds to children in Leon County and nearby counties. Six other chapters in Florida and Georgia will take the rest home to their own communities.
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