Natalie's Everyday Heroes: The retirees delivering kids a good night's sleep

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- There are lots of organizations out there making sure kids have enough to eat. It's crucial for growing up healthy and learning at school.

Another part of growing up is having a safe and comfortable place to sleep, but roughly 3% of children don't have their own bed to sleep in. This week's everyday heroes are volunteers delivering a good night's sleep.

At this point, Jim Stetka, Greg Stein and Brian McEllen are a well-oiled machine. They start most days loading pieces of what will become beds into their delivery van.

"The last couple weeks before Christmas, it's been almost every day," Stein said.

The crew volunteers for the nonprofit Sleep in Heavenly Peace, and they've even got a nickname.

"They're three retired guys. They've come to call themselves the 'Grey-Haired Guys,'" said Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapter co-president Brian Nelson.

Stein has been volunteering for three years.

"We're available to do it and that's why we do what we do," he said with a chuckle.

They deliver beds to homes all over Racine and Kenosha counties.

"Watch the ice," Stein called as they unloaded pieces of the beds.

They carry everything inside. At this stop, bringing three new beds.

"It's very eye-opening," said McEllen of what they encounter.

He has been volunteering for a year.

"You never even think about the need," he said. "I mean, we take too many things for granted here in America. You know, like going to the refrigerator and there being food in it."

He knows that's not a reality for everyone.

"These are my kids, Armani, Bella and Kingston," said Carol Payton. The week before Christmas, she and her children were moving into a new place to live.

These beds are the first pieces of furniture.

"It does help me out as a single mom, not having to buy new beds moving, so just really grateful, really appreciative," she said.

Now back to these guys being a well-oiled machine.

"We're going to put it right in front of the window, Jim," Stein said.

The Grey-Haired Guys work fast.

"It goes 15 minutes, 20 minutes for all three beds," he said.

Before you know it, they're making up the beds with new sheets, pillows and blankets.

Nelson knows the impact these new beds can have.

"We have teachers who have come to us and said that they've seen a change in their students and they've asked them, 'what happened?'  And they've said, 'I have my own bed to sleep in now,'" Nelson said.

Knowing they've delivered a peaceful night's sleep makes it all worth it.

"I love it!" exclaimed Bella when she saw her new bed, covered in a flowery bedspread and purple sheets.

"The smiles on the kids' faces is priceless. It makes everything worthwhile for what you do," McEllen said.

The Racine Kenosha chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace started in 2018. Since then, it has donated around 3,250 beds. In those two counties right now, there are 86 kids waiting for a bed.

There are 24 chapters of Sleep in Heavenly Peace around the state of Wisconsin. But there isn't one in Milwaukee. Nelson said he'd like to see the organization expand here because there's a lot of need in the city.

For more information, click here.

If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].