No Child on the Floor: Luke Mickelson's Mission to End Bedlessness

When Luke Mickelson realized children in his community were sleeping on the floor, he couldn't stand by and do nothing. That realization sparked what would become Sleep in Heavenly Peace, now the world's largest bed-building charity. Luke's journey from a successful business executive to nonprofit founder shows how one person's determination can create a movement that transforms lives across the country.

Growing up in the small town of Kimberly, Idaho, Luke was raised by a single mother along with his four siblings. He credits his upbringing for instilling the values of service and community that would later define his life's work. "The beauty of living in small town America is you get to know everybody and they get to know you," Luke explains. This interconnectedness fostered a natural inclination toward helping others, a trait further developed during his two-year church mission in Texas where he discovered the profound joy that comes from serving strangers.

Luke's career path initially followed a traditional trajectory. He found success in water treatment sales, becoming an executive vice president with plans to buy the business with his brother. Yet despite his professional achievements, Luke experienced what he describes as a "midlife crisis" in 2012. "I just didn't feel like myself. I felt like there was more that I could offer. I felt like I wanted to leave a mark on this world that was more than just trying to make money," he shares with remarkable candor.

The turning point came during a church meeting where Luke learned about a family with children who didn't have beds. This revelation struck him profoundly. He immediately envisioned a service project for the Boy Scout troop he led, measuring his daughter's bunk bed to create a template. What began as a single bed-building project quickly revealed a shocking reality – child bedlessness was a widespread but largely invisible problem affecting countless families in his community and beyond.

The emotional impact of delivering beds to children became the catalyst for a major life transformation. Luke vividly recalls delivering a bed to a little girl named Haley, who had been sleeping on a pile of clothes in the corner of a bare room. "She started hugging us and hugging the bed and kissing the bed, which was crazy," Luke remembers. Witnessing the mother's tears of gratitude cemented his resolve: "No kid's gonna sleep on the floor in my town if I have anything to do with it."

From this declaration, Sleep in Heavenly Peace was born. What started in Luke's garage has expanded to over 400 chapters across four countries, with over 300,000 beds built since 2018. The organization builds approximately 90,000 beds annually, making it the largest bed-building charity globally. This remarkable growth accelerated after Mike Rowe featured Luke on his show "Returning the Favor," giving the organization national exposure and leading to appearances on Good Morning America, CNN, and recognition as a CNN Hero.

What makes Sleep in Heavenly Peace uniquely effective is its community-based model. The organization provides a framework for local chapters to address child bedlessness in their own communities. "This problem called child bedlessness, we know is not going to be solved by some guy in Idaho or some big corporation in a big city. This is going to be solved by us common folk," Luke emphasizes. The approach resonates with people seeking meaningful ways to make tangible differences in their communities.

The impact extends beyond providing a place to sleep. Children without beds often struggle with academic performance due to poor sleep quality. They may experience embarrassment that prevents them from having friends over. A bed represents dignity, security, and normalcy – essentials that many take for granted. As Luke powerfully states, "These kids don't have blankets sometimes to put over their heads to hide from the monster in the closet."

For those inspired to help, Sleep in Heavenly Peace offers multiple avenues for involvement. Individuals can volunteer with local chapters, donate (with 90% of funds staying in the local community), apply for beds for children in need, or even start new chapters. The organization provides comprehensive training and support to ensure chapters succeed in their missions.

Luke's journey reminds us of the transformative power of service. His TBF (Two-By-Four) Framework – Transforming, Building, and Flourishing – captures the reciprocal nature of giving. While the immediate goal is to help children, volunteers often discover personal transformation through their participation. As Luke beautifully puts it, "True joy is found in serving others. When you stop looking at yourself and start seeing how you can help other people, I'm not going to say your problems go away, but they just don't seem as heavy."