All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

New initiative aims to deliver beds to children in Upshur, Randolph and Gilmer counties

Riverstone Community Services has launched the Bed for Every Head program to provide beds to children in Upshur, Randolph, and Gilmer counties lacking proper sleeping arrangements, with initial funding from the People’s Bank Foundation supporting the first 12 beds.

Riverstone Community Services, the community-facing branch of WVSHI Inc., is proud to announce the launch of its newest program: Bed for Every Head, an initiative providing complete beds to children in Upshur, Randolph, and Gilmer Counties who currently go without.

The program addresses a critical and often invisible need, children sleeping on couches, floors, or in unstable arrangements, by offering safe, comfortable, and complete bed kits to families with limited means.

This initiative emerged after WVSHI/Riverstone attempted to support or establish a Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SIHP) chapter locally. When those efforts were halted by structural limitations, the board unanimously voted to create a wholly original program focused specifically on the needs of their service area. From that turning point, Bed for Every Head was born.

After months of pursuing funding, the program received its first major boost on July 14, 2025, when the People’s Bank Foundation awarded a $2,325.00 grant, enough to fund the first twelve full bed kits.

Each kit will include:

  • Twin-size platform frame
  • Mattress
  • Waterproof protector
  • Full bedding set
  • Pillow
  • When possible, a stuffed animal selected by the child

“This is the kind of work that reminds you what matters,” said Titus Swan, CEO of WVSHI Inc. “No child should sleep on a floor or without a space of their own. This program exists because we refused to look away.”

Swan added: “We’re not just delivering beds; we’re restoring stability and dignity. With the right support, this will grow.”

Families in Upshur, Randolph, and Gilmer Counties will be able to apply online at www.wvshi.org or request assistance via email at riverstone@wvshi.org. Due to staffing limitations, Facebook messages cannot always be monitored.

Applications for the Bed for Every Head program will officially open on Monday, August 26, 2025. While the program accepts applications year-round, fulfillment is dependent on available funding, materials, and capacity. This first round of distributions will begin in early September following the first set of approved applications. The program operates on a first-approved, first-served basis while supplies last.

Families in Upshur, Randolph, and Gilmer Counties may begin applying on August 26, 2025. Email is the preferred contact method for all inquiries and applications. Questions about eligibility, documentation, or the approval process can be addressed directly through that channel. As always, Riverstone welcomes the opportunity to connect with local businesses who may be interested in supporting this effort through sponsorship, donations, or discounted supply partnerships.

Riverstone Community Services extends its sincere thanks to the People’s Bank Foundation for their generosity and belief in this mission.

“We’re proud to bank with People’s,” said Swan.

“But more than that, we’re deeply thankful. Their support wasn’t just financial; it was a statement that this work matters. This grant didn’t just fund a program. It acknowledged a need, believed in a solution, and made it possible to act. That kind of backing means everything.”

On behalf of our entire Board of Directors and all of us at WVSHI Inc. and Riverstone Community Services, we extend our sincere thanks to the People’s Bank Foundation for believing in the mission and helping bring it to life.

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