The local deer hunters organization known as Rackin’ Up Dreams Outdoors made two donations on Tuesday of $10,000 each to Sleep in Heavenly Peace and Good Samaritan.  Larry Hart and his wife Connie Hart represented Rackin’ Up Dreams Outdoors at the donation ceremonies.  In the photograph above, Robert Clark, Co-President of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, is accepting the check in the middle, with Casey Huebner on the left and Co-President Gene Russell on the right.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace, which began locally in 2021, builds and donates free single-beds and bunk-beds to children who have no bed in which to sleep.  In their first year 2021, Sleep in Heavenly Peace donated 50 beds locally.  In 2022 they donated 100 beds, and they now donate about 200 beds per year.  Since beginning, Sleep in Heavenly Peace has donated a total of 618 beds, which includes the custom-built bed frame, mattress, sheets, and pillow.  The cost of each bed is $250, so the donation from Rackin’ Up Dreams Outdoors will pay for 40 beds.   If interested in applying for a needed bed for a child ages 3 – 17, go to the website www.shpbeds.org, and click on Apply for Bed.

In the photograph above, Larry and Connie Hart are presenting the donation check to Leesa Stephens, Executive Director of Good Samaritan, and Ray Slaton, Food Resource Manager.  The donation will help fund The Deer Project at Good Samaritan.  A number of local deer processors participate in this project.  Local hunters can donate legally harvested deer to one of the processors.  Good Samaritan then pays for the processing of the deer meat, keeps the processed meat in its freezers, and then includes it with free food provided to local families in Good Samaritan’s Food Pantry project.  Good Samaritan provides food to about 800 families each month, including about 150 families to whom food is delivered.  For more information, go to the website www.goodsambwd.org.

Tim Schoen is the President of Rackin’ Up Dreams Outdoors. The group raises money at their banquet held in May every year.  In addition to today’s donations, Larry Hart said the most important program they have is called Life Hunts.  In this program, Rackin’ Up Dreams Outdoors identify children with serious illness, and take them on a hunting trip.  Last year 17 children were fortunate enough to experience a hunting trip with Rackin’ Up Dreams Outdoors.  In addition, Larry Hart mentioned several other donations made by Rackin’ Up Dreams Outdoors:

*** Ten Volunteer Fire Departments in the Central Texas area received $3,000 each

*** Food banks in Brown and surrounding Counties received donations

*** Toys for Kids received $10,000

*** 4-H Extravaganza, a state-wide skills training event held at the Lake Brownwood 4-H Center, received a donation

*** Southwest Amputee Golf Tournament, held at the Hideout Golf Course at Lake Brownwood, received a donation

*** Support is given to Aldersgate and to the Central Texas Veterans Memorial