Aflac Employees Build Beds for Children in Need
On a Friday afternoon, instead of preparing for the weekend, 31 Aflac employees gathered at a warehouse in Columbus, Georgia, to take part in a hands-on community service project. With lumber, power tools and workstations surrounding them, the volunteers spent the afternoon constructing beds that would provide local children with a safe and comfortable place to sleep.
The team partnered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), a nonprofit organization with more than 400 chapters across the United States. Its mission is straightforward: making sure no child has to sleep on the floor. The demand for its services remains substantial, with more than 108,000 children nationwide on the waiting list for beds, including almost 2,000 in the Columbus area.
Over the course of three hours, the Aflac volunteers turned stacks of raw lumber into 20 finished beds. They measured and cut wood, sanded pieces, assembled frames, applied stain and fitted the slats. Working together through each stage, they transformed basic materials into beds that will soon serve children in their community.
Ryan Walker, an Aflac Compliance Resource Manager and longtime volunteer leader with the local SHP chapter, emphasized that the organization's work is about much more than constructing furniture.
For children who do not have a proper bed, receiving one can have a meaningful effect on their everyday lives. A comfortable place to sleep can contribute to better rest, improved well-being, greater concentration at school and increased confidence. In that sense, a bed can provide a foundation for stability and personal growth.
That opportunity to create a direct and lasting community impact encouraged Aflac employees to participate. The Columbus project was part of broader volunteer efforts by the company. In June, Aflac employees in Omaha also joined forces with their local Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapter to construct and deliver beds to children in their community.
Chevy Ingersoll, an Aflac Sales Compliance Incentives Specialist, said the organization's commitment to ensuring that children have a proper place to sleep was a major source of inspiration. She also valued the opportunity to work alongside colleagues while giving back to the community.
For Compliance Analyst Yvonne Corbin, the project carried an additional personal significance. Corbin and her family have supported Sleep in Heavenly Peace for several years, making the Aflac volunteer event an opportunity to share a cause that is important to her with fellow employees.
The experience, she noted, becomes increasingly rewarding each time she participates. Working with colleagues to advance SHP's mission offers its own sense of fulfillment, while seeing children receive beds of their own provides an even greater reward.
Aflac volunteers can also participate in the delivery and assembly of the beds at recipients' homes. Each child receives more than a bed frame: deliveries include a new mattress, pillow and bedding, creating a complete and comfortable sleeping space.
Although the 20 beds constructed by Aflac employees will help address the local demand, children continue to need assistance. Members of the community can contribute to Sleep in Heavenly Peace by volunteering their time, making financial donations or donating new bedding for children who need it.
The team partnered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), a nonprofit organization with more than 400 chapters across the United States. Its mission is straightforward: making sure no child has to sleep on the floor. The demand for its services remains substantial, with more than 108,000 children nationwide on the waiting list for beds, including almost 2,000 in the Columbus area.
Over the course of three hours, the Aflac volunteers turned stacks of raw lumber into 20 finished beds. They measured and cut wood, sanded pieces, assembled frames, applied stain and fitted the slats. Working together through each stage, they transformed basic materials into beds that will soon serve children in their community.
Ryan Walker, an Aflac Compliance Resource Manager and longtime volunteer leader with the local SHP chapter, emphasized that the organization's work is about much more than constructing furniture.
For children who do not have a proper bed, receiving one can have a meaningful effect on their everyday lives. A comfortable place to sleep can contribute to better rest, improved well-being, greater concentration at school and increased confidence. In that sense, a bed can provide a foundation for stability and personal growth.
That opportunity to create a direct and lasting community impact encouraged Aflac employees to participate. The Columbus project was part of broader volunteer efforts by the company. In June, Aflac employees in Omaha also joined forces with their local Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapter to construct and deliver beds to children in their community.
Chevy Ingersoll, an Aflac Sales Compliance Incentives Specialist, said the organization's commitment to ensuring that children have a proper place to sleep was a major source of inspiration. She also valued the opportunity to work alongside colleagues while giving back to the community.
For Compliance Analyst Yvonne Corbin, the project carried an additional personal significance. Corbin and her family have supported Sleep in Heavenly Peace for several years, making the Aflac volunteer event an opportunity to share a cause that is important to her with fellow employees.
The experience, she noted, becomes increasingly rewarding each time she participates. Working with colleagues to advance SHP's mission offers its own sense of fulfillment, while seeing children receive beds of their own provides an even greater reward.
Aflac volunteers can also participate in the delivery and assembly of the beds at recipients' homes. Each child receives more than a bed frame: deliveries include a new mattress, pillow and bedding, creating a complete and comfortable sleeping space.
Although the 20 beds constructed by Aflac employees will help address the local demand, children continue to need assistance. Members of the community can contribute to Sleep in Heavenly Peace by volunteering their time, making financial donations or donating new bedding for children who need it.
Companies