Valerie Hibbard

“I used to make these pillows for the Detroit Police, but just approached my local Columbus, Ohio precinct 2 weeks ago about making them here, and they happily accepted. I deliver the first 49 tomorrow morning, and will do about 50 a month as long as they can use that many. It’s not an organization, it’s just me. I make small stuffed pillows from fleece and Fairifield product, closed by hand, and then add (also by hand) a small brightly colored crocheted medallion. These are given to the Columbus Police Department to put in the squad cars; when responding to a call involving children, they can remove the pillow from the zip lock and give it to the child, it’s something bright and cheery, soft, easy for even a very young child to hold.

When I started doing this in Detroit, we worked to develop a product which would not have any offensive qualities. Dolls, bears, etc., were deemed biased–dolls might interfere with later social services interviews on body parts. We had to have something out of all new materials, and hypoallergenic. It had to be small, to fit into already crowded cruiser trunks. We wanted it to be huggable and squeezable, something to cry into, hold onto, when a child felt scared or helpless. I’ve been blessed by being able to remember what it was like to hold tightly onto something when the world seemed in turmoil. Holding onto something can make you feel stronger, less alone.”