Owasso’s BattleCreek Church builds bunk beds for foster children

OWASSO, Okla. — Jamie Hyslop hammered, sawed and framed with other volunteers at BattleCreek Church in Owasso on a cold Sunday night.

“I like to do woodworking as a hobby,” Hyslop said.

The group meets once a month to build bunk beds for foster children.

“What better way to provide for the needs of our community. Everyone deserves a bed,” he said.

Hyslop is a foster parent who gives back the best way he can through the church’s bunk bed ministry.

“After we received a bed, we thought it was a great opportunity for us to get involved,” he said.

The group collaborates with the CarePortal, a technology platform designed to connect children and families in crisis to churches and people who want to help.

“As families are either gaining their kids or if families are taking in kids, we were like ‘ok, what can we do?’” said Delmy Guajardo, missions director at BattleCreek Church.

“I think we were just looking for a way to meet a need in our community,” said Hyslop.

Volunteers participate in different stations to put the bunk beds together. One station is specifically to write encouraging notes with a permanent marker on the slats, so that the children can read them.

“There’s a mission. There’s a heart behind it, and people can actually see it and put it together, I think creates more of an impact,” said Guajardo.

“I’m just honored to be a part of it. It makes all the difference whenever a kid has a bed to come home to,” Hyslop added.