We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Steve Gielda a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Steve, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?
I was very fortunate to grow up as a military kid with my two brothers and my twin sister. Though we moved a lot when we were younger, our mom and dad always created the opportunity for us to serve others regardless of what military base we were living in at the time. Since a very young age my parents demonstrated generosity to others.
Once when I was about 11 years old my parents got us up as usual on a Sunday morning to prepare ourselves for church. After breakfast we piled in our 1970 International Travelall. It was one of the first SUV’s with two rows of bench seats in the back. So, all four kids jumped in, two in the far back and two in the middle.
While driving to church my parents noticed a sharp dress older black man walking on the side of the road, so they pulled over and asked if he needed a ride. He must have been in his 70’s where a three-piece suit, a long black trench coat and a dapper fedora.
I remember the surprise in his eyes when my parents pulled over and asked him; “where are you going, do you need a ride?” He had the kindest brown eyes and a gray beard. He quickly responded that he would very much appreciate the ride. It seemed he was headed to the same church we were headed to.
So, this older gentleman got into the backseat with four young kids between 12-9 years old. He looked at us and just smiled and said, “do you know how wonderful your mom and dad are?” We all just sat there unsure what to say. He added; “I had been walking for almost 30 minutes and dozens of cars passed by and not one car stopped and asked if I needed a ride…until your mom and dad stopped…” he continued and reminded each of us that we are put here on this earth to serve one another and if we ever have the opportunity to help someone, we should always make the attempt.
That event in my life happened about 50 years ago, yet I can remember it vividly. I am grateful that my parent’s actions and man’s appreciation help set me on a path of living a life of gratitude and seeking ways to serve others.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I was introduced to Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) in 2019. SHP believes that all children deserve a safe, comfortable place to lay their heads. Here in Austin, TX and all across the US, too many boys and girls go without a bed—or even a pillow—to sleep on. These children end up sleeping on couches, blankets, and even floors. This can affect their happiness and health.
That’s where Sleep in Heavenly Peace comes in. We’re a group of volunteers dedicated to building, assembling and delivering top-notch bunk beds to children and families in need.
In 2022, my brother Stacy and I took over as co-Presidents and we’re working hard to expand our team of core volunteers and provide more kids in the Austin area with a safe comfortable place to sleep. In 2022 with the help of many corporate and church sponsors we built and delivered 300 beds. Our goal for 2024 is 500 beds delivered!
If you wish to get involved in any way, simply reach out to us at https://shpbeds.org/chapter/tx-austin/
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three important qualities, skills or areas of knowledge that I believe are critical regardless of what you choose to do in life are:
1. Find a way to serve others. This requires you to be selfless. Sometimes when we’re struggling with our own stuff it’s hard to be selfless. But this is where you can find understanding and appreciation for the challenges you might be facing. When we reach out to others in need it causes us to realize that our “stuff” might not be as difficult as we believe. I adopted a philosophy many years ago that says” “If you have the ABILITY to________, then you have an OBLIGATION to _______. The blanks here are for each of us to fill in. It can be as simple as; If you have the ability to pick up the trash you see on the street, then you have an obligation to do it. Maybe a bit more difficult might be…if you have the ability to say “I’m sorry”, then you have an obligation to do it.
2. Read regularly. I didn’t grow up reading a lot. I wish I had. I just didn’t make it a priority no matter how much my parents pushed me. Taking time to read allows you to simply slow down and put yourself first. I enjoy reading books that challenge my perspective on things. One of my favorite books this past year was “Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey. A simple and enjoyable book to read about Matthew’s life, but at the same time he provides us with the opportunity for self-examination. I guess I kinda enjoy books that challenge me to think about how I perceive others and the world around. As a Christian, I enjoy reading books that force me to examine my faith in God and my relationship with those God has put in my life.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
As my brother and I look to support this community in Austin to end “bedlessness” for kids, we need help. The help we’re looking for can come in many different ways. If you work for a company that has a philanthropy department or mission, we’d love to get your company to consider partnering with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to sponsor a bunk bed build day. It’s a wonderful way to get employees together serving our community.
If you’re someone that simply has a servant heart and is looking for a mission to get behind, we’re always looking for core team members to support our bed bed build days and delivery days. These core team members are part of our “Red Shirt” team members and they demonstrate to other volunteers the jobs that need to get done. Our core team members donate about 4-hours a month.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shpbeds.org/chapter/tx-austin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SHPTXAustin/
