Exchange Students Build Beds for Kids Without Them

For many of us, volunteering feels as natural as breathing. But for eight exchange students from countries where community service is rare, building beds for children in need opened their eyes to a different kind of generosity.

The teens gathered at Sleep in Heavenly Peace in Twin Falls, Idaho, alongside their host families for a Saturday morning project. Armed with power tools, drills, and stain brushes, they crafted five complete beds for local kids who've been sleeping on floors.

"Where they come from in their countries, volunteering is not very common," said Bethany Farrer, area representative for International Student Exchange. The experience gave students a hands-on introduction to American community culture.

Ola Klus, a Polish student, felt the impact immediately. "The fact that I could help those kids that are in need just makes me feel happy because I can do something nice for them," she said.

The project introduced students to skills they'd never tried at home. Host parent Jami Whited watched as the exchange students operated drill presses and other equipment. "I don't think people really understand the importance of until they're out here standing and staining and stapling," Whited said.

The Ripple Effect

Robin Stanhope, a volunteer with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, said the students' enthusiasm creates waves of good throughout Magic Valley. "It gives us goosebumps that they want to take the time to actually come and learn something that they may not do at their own homes," Stanhope said. "It's a blessing for us, it's a blessing for all of the Magic Valley, it's a blessing for all of the kids that don't have a bed."

German exchange student Charlotte Siebeneicher understood the deeper lesson. "We're being accepted in a new community. Just to give something back to the community is good," she said.

The partnership between ISE and Sleep in Heavenly Peace has been running for years, turning required community service hours into meaningful cultural exchange. Five beds may not sound like much, but for five children, it means a safe, comfortable place to rest tonight.