Seven siblings have been sharing a master bedroom at their grandmother’s house in Manteca.

And up until last Wednesday, some shared the bed while others slept on the floor in sleeping bags and on egg crates.

What changed was a visit by a small army of volunteers working with the Manteca Police Chief’s Foundation.

Led by Manteca Police Chief Stephen Schluer, several police officers, seven Kaiser employees and individuals that kicked in additional funds such as Manteca Unified Superintendent Clark Burke and Manteca Rotarian Ron Light provided the muscle to paint bedrooms and put together everything from beds complete with mattresses  and desks to dressers.

They also made sure there was the necessary bedding as well in bedrooms of 12 youths at different homes in Manteca.

It was part of The Healthy Room Project the chief’s foundation is pursuing as its marquee endeavor.

Among the responses from the parents or guardians included the following:

*”Jericho woke and said ‘I love my surprise. I slept good . . . ‘ And all of the boys said they were comfy (and) they wanted to keep sleeping.”

*”I am beyond blessed and grateful . . . It’s definitely not easy being a mother having to watch boys hurt because they have a donor who chooses not to be around for their own selfish reasons but when God sends people like you and your team to help the community, it is always a blessing and  am so blessed. Thank you so much for everything.”
Prior to Wednesdays’ effort, the foundation with the help of volunteers had “refreshed” several bedrooms of youth  of struggling single parents or those that were living with grandparents.

Unlike foster children, Chief Schluer noted grandparents don’t have financial help from the government.

“We get so wrapped up in our lives, that we aren’t aware of people who are struggling,” Schluer said.

The endeavor, that started in Los Angeles, is a collaborative effort involving police officers, mentors, teachers, and parents/guardians to identify vulnerable children — especially from single parent families.

The effort improves physical health, enhances emotional health, increases productivity, promotes safety, fosters independence and responsibility, improves sleep quality, builds self-esteem, as well as encourages healthy habits.

The police chief said the 12 youth involved didn’t know exactly what was happening although their preferences and interests were solicited in planning for the one-day makeover of the bedrooms in different homes.

“At one home, (the kids) said they liked yellow and blue so we painted the walls in their bedroom yellow and blue,” Schluer said. “In the other rooms, we painted the walls white.”

And when they could, they were able to match bedding — bed spreads and such — to the passion of individual children such as one that liked Pokeman.

Overall, the three rooms refurbished last week cost the chief’s foundation $9,500.

The biggest source of the funding came from the just conducted Policeman’s Ball. Other bedroom projects are being planned including one next month of a child referred to the foundation by both an officer that came across the family and a teacher.

The foundation also supports other community endeavors involving youth such as the Manteca Boys & Girls Club as well as the Child Abuse Prevention Council.

The Healthy Room Project “transforms lives, one room at a time”, typically for at-risk kids between the ages 5 and 16.

On Wednesday, the volunteers did make sure a toddler was taken care of by providing a crib and appropriate furniture including a changing table.

The foundation is in the process of updating its website.

Meanwhile, those that are interested in contributing financially can call the chief’s office at 209-456-8139 and mention they are interested  in The Healthy Room Project.

Any donations can be earmarked for specific endeavors the foundation does including the bedroom makeover.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com