CoastHills Employees Build 105 Beds for Local Children

Credit union staff partnered with volunteers to assemble new sleeping arrangements for children in Santa Maria.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Philanthropy

CoastHills Employees Build 105 Beds for Local Children

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CoastHills Credit Union employees gathered at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge to assemble 105 beds for children in need. The initiative directly addressed a waiting list of over 80 children currently lacking proper sleeping facilities in the community.

Why it matters

The project tackles a significant local need for basic furniture among children, providing essential support to families on a lengthy waiting list. By funding and building these items, the credit union helps ensure more children have a safe, comfortable place to sleep.

The effort involved 150 credit union employees and 18 additional volunteers from Sleep in Heavenly Peace. The organization operates 11 branches across the Central Coast and recently issued $20,000 in scholarship funding in August 2026.

The players

CoastHills Credit Union

This financial institution operates 11 branches along the Central Coast and was originally founded at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

This is a non-profit organization dedicated to building and delivering beds to children who do not have their own.

Santa Maria Elks Lodge

This fraternal organization provided the venue for the community bed-building event in Santa Maria.

The details

Staff worked in teams throughout the day to measure, sand, drill, and assemble bed components for local families. In addition to the construction labor, the credit union provided the necessary funding for mattresses, pillows, and bedding sets to complete the donation.

October 12, 2026: Employees built 105 beds at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge.
August 2026: The credit union funded $20,000 in scholarships.

Market Landscape

This project aligns with the growing trend of corporate social responsibility where regional firms leverage their employee base for large-scale community service. Such efforts differentiate local credit unions from larger national banks by demonstrating a commitment to the specific socio-economic needs of their local service area.

The effort primarily benefits local families awaiting furniture and does not directly alter consumer banking fees or services for the average member. However, it highlights the credit union's active participation in addressing immediate household necessities within the local Santa Maria region.

The takeaway

Community-led initiatives can provide rapid solutions to tangible material deficits for vulnerable families. Companies that coordinate these events often strengthen their local footprint by focusing resources on specific, measurable local needs.