Clinton Church Builds 40+ Beds for Kids in Need

Children across Hinds County, Mississippi are sleeping in real beds for the first time, thanks to volunteers who refuse to let kids go without.

Clinton Methodist Church partnered with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) to launch their Beds of Hope Build event. CASA works with abused and neglected children navigating the court system, and many of these kids had nowhere safe to sleep.

Members of Boy Scout Troop 88 used their day off school to swing hammers and build hope. Isaac Krason, one of the young volunteers, said the project opened his eyes to how fortunate he is.

"It might give us more understanding of how fortunate we are that we actually have a place to sleep, and we don't have to worry about this," Isaac said. "And it's good that we get to help those that are in need."

Fellow scout Holden Holmes felt the weight of what they were creating. "It makes me feel really good because people that have gone through rough times and now having something they haven't had," he said.

Pastor Jimmy Criddle emphasized that everyone participates fully in the builds. Every volunteer touches every piece of wood that goes into each bed, creating both furniture and connection.

"I think it just makes us feel good to be able to help others, to share the love of Christ and to do the things that a church is supposed to do," Criddle said.

Why This Inspires

The beauty of this project goes beyond carpentry. Young people are learning empathy by building something essential that they take for granted. They're discovering that not every child has a bed, and they have the power to change that reality.

The church has already built more than 40 beds for children across the county, turning what could be a one-time service project into an ongoing ministry. Each bed represents a child who will sleep safely and wake up knowing someone cared enough to build them something sturdy and real.

So far, 40 children in Hinds County are sleeping better tonight because their community showed up with hammers, wood, and heart.