As they worked to raise money to send mattresses to a school in Chile, members of a local church learned that “a miracle out of nowhere” would provide beyond their dreams and allow them to refocus their efforts.

As members of Main Street United Methodist Church raised money with a goal of sending 40 mattresses to an agricultural school in the South American country, they got an unexpected call from mattress company Serta offering to donate 150 mattresses.

“That was just something,” said Robert Baker, a member of the church who has been helping to coordinate the efforts. “Now the funds that we’ve raised will help pay for the freight.”

It all started when a team from the church visited Angol, Chile, for a mission trip in October. As they prepared to leave, they asked around about needs they could provide.

An agricultural school needed new mattresses for students, Baker said. The school serves students who are having trouble in the mainstream school, provides them training in various agricultural specialties and sells seedlings to nurseries to generate an income.

Back in the states, Baker and the Suffolk church partnered with other Methodist churches — one in Virginia Beach, the other in Oklahoma City — and began raising money for mattresses.

“My goal was 40 mattresses,” Baker said. They had been quoted $150 per mattress, so they needed $6,000, not counting shipping costs.

But then, Baker got the call from a man who works for Serta. He had heard about the effort and wanted to send 150 mattresses at no cost.

“It was a miracle out of nowhere,” Baker said.

Since then, things have moved quickly. Baker and his wife recently visited the Chilean embassy in Washington, D.C., to acquire a letter so the goods can enter the country tax-free.

“Right now, we’re planning to ship these things on the 11th,” Baker said.

Also in the large box container that will make its way from Suffolk to Chile will be a trailer donated by Boy Scout Troop 1, which Baker leads. The trailer is six years old, and the troop has outgrown it, he said.

That, along with a generator also being shipped, will allow the community to better respond to the frequent earthquakes that occur there, Baker said.

He said he is thrilled that everything is coming together to make such a large donation to the school and community.

“I just felt like I wanted to do something for them, and our church was willing to help, and these other churches too,” Baker said. “I thank everybody that’s helped us.”