Thomsen rides for children’s beds
Sleep in Heavenly to host volunteer event this Saturday
A strong head wind, sizzling hot temperatures, traffic whizzing by, even angry dive-bombing birds. These are just a few of the things Dorchester-based Jessica Thomsen has to contend with during her daily bike ride.
Thomsen, a nurse and mother of two who is originally from Colby, takes it all in stride, handles whatever the day may bring with a smile and just keeps on biking. A lesser person might not be so inclined, but Thomsen has a very important reason that keeps her going.
“I am a goal setter and I really need to set a goal in order to motivate myself,” Thomsen said about biking in all manner of conditions.
“Weather isn’t usually an issue. Last Sunday I did a 50-mile bike event in Chippewa Falls, and it was raining and miserable out, and some people stopped and didn’t finish. But I just kept thinking ‘I’m doing this for a reason.’ And that really helps keeps me going.”
Thomsen is on a mission to bike 1,000 miles this summer to raise $1,000 for the Spencer chapter of Sleep In Heavenly Peace (SHP), an organization that is committed to providing beds for needy children and families.
Thomsen first became aware of SHP from her co-worker and friend Joleen Schade. Schade is the Spencer’s chapter co-president, a title she shares with her daughter Alyssa Schade.
“Joleen asked if I would be interested in it,” Thomsen says as she describes how she got involved in SHP. “I kinda sat on it for awhile knowing that it would not start until May or June, and then I thought ‘Why not?’ So here I am.”
According to Sleep in Heavenly Peace, it is estimated that two to three percent of kids in any area do not have appropriate sleeping conditions.
“It exists right here in our town too,” Thomsen said. “It’s even been reported in the Tribune-Phonograph in the police log! Our mission to fulfill is that no kid sleeps on the floor in our town.”
To ensue that this happens, Thomsen has been biking these last two months to raise awareness for the cause and funds for the construction of new beds. All the money that is raised is then spent entirely on local needs.
“Basically, we raise money, build beds, deliver beds and repeat,” said Joleen Schade via Facebook. “The child gets a new handmade twin-size bed, new mattress and all the bedding delivered and assembled in their home, and they’re all ready for the children to crawl into when we leave.”
The cost to deliver such a bed is currently $200, but is being raised to $250 per bed because of all the price increases for lumber and mattresses.
“We do have to purchase all new mattresses, bedding, pads, the whole thing. The big thing is getting what the kids want, which for boys over six is sports and Fortnite sets,” Alyssa says. “We have one Fortnite set, so that’s very exciting.”
Spencer’s SHP chapter started in August of 2019, and has since built 177 beds and delivered 153. But the work is not over yet, and Schade and Thomsen are hoping to increase those numbers this weekend, when Spencer hosts a volunteer Build-a-Bed on Saturday, June 12, in the Spencer Village Park.
The goal is to build 40 new beds this weekend for anyone who lives within 30 miles of Spencer and is between the ages of three and 17. It’s a tough undertaking, but Joleen, Alyssa and Jessica understand the importance of a good night’s rest for a child’s development.
“As a mother, I know how important it is to get adequate sleep for mental and physical well-being,” Thomsen said during a recent interivew. “If a child is tired, that can affect everything they do, from school work to sports. It really does affect everything they do if they don’t get enough sleep.”
At the moment, Thomsen has raised over $700. She has another month to complete her goal, and she’s confident she’ll reach and even exceed it.
“People have been very generous, and every little bit adds up,” Thomsen. “We appreciate donations and it’s been amazing to see how supportive people are once they hear about the cause.”
With each mile, Thomsen grows closer to her goal. Once she reaches that, she says, it’s on to even bigger goals, like providing a bed for everyone who needs it.
