After finding out children didn’t have anything to sleep on, students at one Lauderdale County school wanted to do something.

Students in the Future Farmers of America Club at Clarkdale High School began building beds to fill that need.

“I love seeing the physical impact and seeing that you have done something,” Clarkdale senior Curt Todd said.

Todd is one of many students in the FFA Club who are building beds for needy families in the community with the No Kid Sleeps on the Floor program.

Since starting the project in the middle of the 2017-2018 school year, students have built more than 120 beds for families in Lauderdale County and surrounding communities, such as Newton. The beds have also been donated to local shelters.

Tanner Hicks, a junior and parliamentarian of Clarkdale’s FFA club, said he never knew before how great the need was in the community. The last couple of months he has seen it grow from a small project into something a lot bigger, he said.

“It is a lot bigger than we thought it was going to be,” Hicks said.

When the team first started out, Hicks said, they had only enough materials to build 12 beds. Through community donations, they have been able to expand the program. The donations have helped them to purchase materials such as wood and mattresses.

Students usually build two to three twin or bunk beds during an hour and a half class period. Once the beds are complete, the students personally deliver them, Hicks said. 

“We go and set it up for them or we can take them to shelters and they set them up wherever they need them,” Hicks said.

The families are usually surprised by the gift, Hicks said.

To help with the funding, Hicks said, teacher Toni Buchanan has been writing grant requests, hoping to get around $3,000 so they can continue the program. The club have enough now to build around four or five more beds, he said.

The Clarkdale FFA Club has shared their blueprints with others across the state so other students can also build beds, Todd said, and freshmen are being trained so the program can continue at Clarkdale.

Students feel like they have made an impact on the community and the families they’ve helped, Todd said.

“They are excited and it makes us feel good,” Todd said.

Those who want to donate materials can call Clarkdale High School at 601-483-6329.