Books, stuffed animals donated to police to calm children in crisis

Duffel bags filled with stuffed animals and books to calm children during a crisis were recently distributed to Tucson police officers by the nonprofit organization Books to the Rescue-Pima County.

The nine duffel bags, which hold up to 40 books each, will be handed out to some patrol officers and to detectives who deal with child abuse and assault cases.

“I wanted to help children in emergency situations,” said Jennifer Dillon, founder and the program coordinator for Books to the Rescue. Dillon said she learned about the program through a friend who started one in Greene County, Ohio.

“I was moved by the program and decided to start it here,” said Dillon, who met with Tucson Police Department officers and the Pima County Sheriff’s Department last year.

Dillon said the program struck an emotional chord because she remembered how upset her then 3-year-old son was when she was involved in a serious car crash eight years ago.

The crash was in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant at East 22nd Street and South Columbus Boulevard. She recalled that the driver of a truck that was traveling at a high-rate of speed crashed into the driver’s door of her vehicle.

“My son was petrified. He was so scared. I couldn’t get him to calm down,” said Dillon, recalling that her son, who was strapped into a car seat, was not injured.

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In January, she began working on fundraising campaigns and teamed up with the nonprofit group Mended Little Hearts of Tucson, which now houses Books to the Rescue. Dillon is a volunteer for Mended Little Hearts of Tucson, a support group for families that have children born with congenital heart defects.

Community support and donations so far have provided 360 books to Books for the Rescue. The materials include coloring books and activity books, along with stuffed toys for TPD officers to hand out to children they encounter in traffic collisions, domestic violence incidents and abuse cases. The materials are for infants on up to age 16.

Dillon is working on collecting materials to fill up 10 duffel bags that will be handed out to sheriff’s deputies in coming weeks.

New books and new stuffed animals for Books to the Rescue-Pima County can be dropped off at the following locations:

• Sahuaro Trophy, 2616 E. Broadway.
• Arts Pit Shop, 5656 E. Speedway.
• The Advanced Open MRI, 3970 N. Campbell Ave.
• Speed Auto Seat Covers, 1500 N. Oracle Road
• UPS Store, 899 E. Silverlake Road.
• On the Border, 5205 E. Broadway.

For monetary donations or more information, you can contact Dillon at 409-1751.

More information can also be found on the organization’s website at www.tucsonbookstotherescue.org or its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/books4firstresponders .