Staff Reports | Free Press Philanthropy
A collaboration between Compass and Sleep in Heavenly Peace is working to provide beds and bedding to children across the Valley who have been sleeping without them, according to a press release.
After learning more than 300 children in the region were on a waiting list for beds, Compass agents helped deliver hundreds of beds to families over five months, reducing the wait time for children seeking permanent sleeping arrangements.
Compass agents and Sleep in Heavenly Peace volunteers are preparing for another delivery scheduled for Saturday, May 30. About 25 Compass agents will help deliver 65 beds, along with bedding and stuffed animals, to children in the community.
Many families served through the effort rely on couches, outdoor furniture or shared sleeping arrangements before receiving beds due to financial constraints.
“It came to our attention that the Phoenix Chapter was years behind with more than 300 kids on a waitlist to simply sleep in a bed,” Sean Zimmerman, a Compass agent, said. “That’s something no child should have to experience. Once our agents saw the need firsthand, they jumped in immediately.”
Sleep in Heavenly Peace partners locally with Christ Church Lutheran in Phoenix.
“At Christ Church Lutheran’s Sleep in Heavenly Peace Hub, we’ve seen firsthand how much something as simple as a bed can impact a child’s confidence and well-being. For these children, it represents stability, comfort and being seen,” Sarah Dever, a member of Christ Church Lutheran and a volunteer with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, said.
“There is so much beauty in this ministry. I will never forget praying over a family after watching their 15-year-old receive his very first bed. These children’s smiles mean the world to parents who are struggling to provide for their families. It has been an honor to work alongside Compass over the past few months, as they have provided all the bedding necessary to help put 185 children into beds. They care deeply about making a difference in the lives of children in their community.”
Organizers said the effort has focused on volunteer support to deliver and assemble beds. Compass encouraged its agents to participate in builds and deliveries, while U-Haul provided trucks to transport the beds across the Valley.
Over five months, Compass agents helped reduce the waitlist for beds from several years to about 30 days.
Compass, a residential real estate brokerage, continues to expand in Arizona, including in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. Company leaders say community involvement is a key component of its business approach.
“We have a really fantastic crew of agents here in Arizona,” Cassandra Vanitas, vice president of operations at Compass Arizona, said. “When they’re asked to step up, they do so without hesitation – they really want to help and improve their communities and impact local families in a way that really matters. Watching these deliveries take place and seeing the reactions from these kids and families puts everything into perspective very quickly.”
