Local nonprofit that builds, donates beds to kids opens permanent warehouse, workspace

With more than 800 beds built and 760 beds delivered, the local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace has filled a large need in Sioux Falls to ensure that no child sleeps on the floor.

The success comes less than two years after the organization reopened the local chapter in 2024.

Chapter co-president Nicole Hofer said a bed is a basic necessity for a child’s physical health, emotional well-being and ability to succeed.

Powered largely by volunteers, the organization operates through its local chapters to identify families, builds beds during “build days” and personally delivers them to the home of kids age 3 to 17.

Hofer, a South Dakota native, was living in Omaha for a period of time with intentions of returning home.

“I’ve always felt that we’re called to work and do things for others,” she said. “I was amazed by the work Sleep in Heavenly Peace was doing at the chapter in Omaha and would see pictures of how happy the kids were when they received their beds.”

That’s when Hofer explored bringing the organization to Sioux Falls.

The timing was perfect because she learned there was a great need here after the chapter had closed.

Hofer helped reopen the chapter in the summer of 2024.

“I reached out on Facebook to see if anyone was interested in helping out with the relaunch of Sleep in Heavenly Peace Sioux Falls,” she said. “There are about 10 core volunteers who have been with me from the beginning, and we’ve added to the team since.”

The group has been building beds in business parking lots and then putting everything away into storage or donated warehouse space.

“We would bring the trailers, lumber and build beds, and the finished product would either go into storage or my garage,” Hofer said.

Each bed comes with a mattress, pillow and bedding.

“When we first got started, we had a build with a group from Brookings and needed to finish 50 beds. During that build, I wondered what I got myself into and how we were going to do it,” Hofer said.

“We’ve had so many builds since then.”

Each build finishes with anywhere from 40 to 70 beds and requires a large team of people to manage different stations and then vehicles with trailers for delivery.

That said, Hofer can’t help but note the generosity of the community.

“All of it brings tears to my eyes because it’s been overwhelming,” she said. “There is a lot of emotion in every delivery because you see some situations that are very rough and you see what our kids are going through with loss of parents or constant change.”

At any given time, there are about 50 beds on request through applications. Right now, the chapter has close to 90.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace Sioux Falls delivers about 50 beds per month.

“Since August of 2024, I never expected to do as many deliveries as we have, and I did not expect the need and demand for beds that we’ve seen.”

After hitting a milestone of 500 beds in 2025, the chapter’s biggest need was a permanent space to call its own.

“Not having a place was really difficult,” Hofer said. “It was hard because all of our stuff was scattered and a lot of it was in my own garage.”

In December, the local chapter opened in Tea for storage and smaller builds indoors with groups of 10 to 25 people at a time.

Hofer calls it a huge win and allows for a more streamlined operation and community participation this year.

“This new space means so much more than four walls,” she said.

“It’s a place where we can host bed builds, welcome small groups, work on bed build preps and continue growing our mission of ensuring no child sleeps on the floor in our community. With this new home, we’re ready to make an even greater impact — one bed, one child, one family at a time.”

To learn more about the Sioux Falls chapter, to donate or to volunteer, visit its website or Facebook page.