Midlothian Youth League Builds Beds for Children in Poverty

TL;DR: The Midlothian chapter of the Young Men's Service League built 30 beds for children in poverty Saturday using a 9/11 memorial grant, marking the organization's 25 years of service in Chesterfield County.

The story

The Midlothian chapter of the Young Men's Service League built 30 beds in a five-hour project Saturday, partnering with the national nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace to provide sleeping furniture for children in the Chesterfield County area. The beds will go to children ages 3-17 who are experiencing poverty or domestic violence situations.

The project was funded by a September 11 memorial grant, allowing the volunteers to honor victims of the 2001 attacks while serving local youth. Will Loucks, president of the YMSL class of 2029 and a student at Midlothian High School, said the effort demonstrates "love and care to children who might be struggling in domestic violence or are in poverty in our community."

The bed-building marks a milestone for the Midlothian chapter, which is celebrating 25 years of volunteer service in Chesterfield County. YMSL is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with more than 195 chapters across 22 states, where mothers and their teenage sons volunteer together during the sons' four years of high school. Sleep in Heavenly Peace, founded in 2012, operates approximately 400 chapters nationwide and is entirely volunteer-driven and donation-funded, with a mission that no child should sleep on the floor.

Key players

• Young Men's Service League (YMSL): National nonprofit organization; Midlothian chapter coordinated the bed-building project and marked 25 years of community service in Chesterfield County
• Sleep in Heavenly Peace: National nonprofit partner that provides beds to children in need; provided design and coordination for the build
• Will Loucks: President of YMSL class of 2029 and Midlothian High School student; emphasized the project's mission

Why it matters: The project directly addresses housing insecurity among vulnerable youth in Chesterfield County, providing basic comfort and dignity to children experiencing poverty or domestic instability. The initiative demonstrates how youth-led community organizations can mobilize resources and partnership to meet concrete local needs.

Places

• Midlothian High School

Related links

• Young Men's Service League official site
• Sleep in Heavenly Peace
• WTVR news coverage

Read the original at WTVR CBS 6 Local →

Sources

• Young Men's Service League honors 9/11 victims by building beds for kids
• Young Men's Service League official site
• Sleep in Heavenly Peace