LEONARDTOWN, Md. — For many children in St. Mary’s County, a bed is not a guarantee. Some sleep on floors, couches, blankets or crowded mattresses shared with siblings. For Leonardtown veteran Andrew Jilcott, making sure those children have a bed of their own has become a mission.
Jilcott, a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2632, is being recognized through the VFW’s “Still Serving” campaign for his ongoing commitment to the community as delivery manager for the St. Mary’s County chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace.
The nonprofit organization builds and delivers beds to children who do not have one of their own. For many recipients, it is the first bed they have ever had.
In an interview with The BayNet, Jilcott expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the organization and its impact.
“Being recognized by the VFW’s ‘Still Serving’ campaign is a profound honor,” Jilcott said. “It is a privilege to be associated with both of these amazing organizations that have such a significant and positive impact on our community.”
Though his military career has ended, Jilcott said his sense of duty has not. His passion for service continues.
“My military service instilled in me a deep sense of duty and a commitment to community,” he said. “The encouragement to volunteer and be an active participant in local communities was a core tenet of my time in service. I view my continued volunteer work not as a separate endeavor, but as a natural extension of the service I began in the military; I was committed to ensuring that my impact on the community would not cease upon my military retirement.”
Through his work with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Jilcott has seen firsthand the quiet struggles some families face and the difference a simple piece of furniture can make.
“My work with ‘Sleep in Heavenly Peace’ has been a humbling experience, fostering a profound realization of the everyday amenities we often take for granted,” he said. “It has shed light on a critical, yet often overlooked, need within our community. I’ve had the privilege of meeting parents, grandparents and other relatives who, with a small measure of assistance, are able to provide a better life for the children in their care.”
While building and delivering beds is physically demanding work, Jilcott said the emotional moments stay with him the most.
“The most memorable and deeply moving moments are witnessing the pure excitement on a child’s face when they see their very own bed for the first time,” he said. “The realization that they no longer have to share with siblings or parents is a powerful one, and I often find that their joy is contagious.”
Despite the impact already made, the need in St. Mary’s County remains significant.
“There is a significant need for support in St. Mary’s County,” Jilcott said.
Local residents who wish to donate funds, volunteer or apply for a bed can visit the St. Mary’s County chapter website at shpbeds.org/chapter/md-st-marys-co/. Those outside the county can find their nearest chapter and learn how to get involved at shpbeds.org/chapters/.
For Jilcott, the mission is simple but meaningful: ensure that every child in his community has a warm, safe place to sleep, a continuation of the service he began in uniform and now carries forward at home.
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I loved reading how these veterans turned continued service into something that goes beyond charity and actually changes children’s lives. Providing safe places to sleep is important, but creating stability, connection, and support for families in need really shows what community service can be when it’s rooted in care and long-term t thinking.