Sisters volunteer group sends pillow ‘hearts’ to soldiers in Iraq

Thanks to the hard work of a Sisters volunteer group, Hearts for Heroes, military men and women stationed in Iraq have been receiving small heart-shaped pillows, as well as other small gifts.

The idea began last December when former Sisters area resident Pat Dunlop suggested small pillows should be made for servicemen and women stationed in Iraq. Originally, it was to be a one-time project with a goal of sending 150 pillowsoverseas.

Military personnel are not furnished pillows and at eight dollars or more they are expensive to buy in Iraq if they can be found. The idea was to make small pillows that would fit easily into a soldier’s pack. The pillows are made in the shape of a heart to let soldiers know that people back home do care for them and support their effort.

Once the goal of 150 pillows was met, the group decided to continue with the project.

“We all got along so well and we had such a good time and we felt so good about doing this that we decided to continue,” Wheeler said. “Pat Dunlop was moving from town and we asked, ‘Who wants to take over?’”

Wheeler took on the job with help of others, including Wanda Heller, Teresa and Patricia Wellington, Carole Swales, Virgie Pedro, Leah and Nancy Kline, Chris Parsons, Sharon Watson, and Denise’s children Kady Wheeler, Kyrsten Sonnier, and Jake Sonnier.

As of this week, the group has shipped 872 pillows overseas. The pillows are made from materials that they have donated themselves or solicited from others including local retailers Wal-Mart and Fred Meyer.

“We also received 275 pounds of fiberfill material donated by wholesale companies and we have depleted that now,” Wheeler said.

“We decided that we wanted to keep this going for a long time, for as long as we have soldiers over there,” Wheeler said.

Wheeler said that she has learned that 60 percent of all military personnel do not receive any mail or packages.

The group meets every other Monday at different homes to machine sew the small heart-shaped pillows that are about 10 inches by 10 inches and have six to eight ounces of filling. After finishing them with hand sewing, they pack the pillows in gallon-size plastic bags, add a tag with their name and address, add “stuffers” such as socks, toiletries and other personal products, and vacuum seal using a shop vacuum.

Boxes of 30 or more are packed and sent off for the two-week journey to Iraq.

“We gather names of military personnel by email and send directly to them for distribution to their fellow soldiers,” Wheeler said. “From these mailings, we then get new names to receive our next shipment.”

The group has received responses from many of the soldiers, some that have brought tears to their eyes. One response came from a soldier’s wife expecting a new baby. The soldier had been home on leave and left the pillow home for the new baby “for strength.”

When the group learned of this, they promptly made “a special pillow for the baby and a new one for daddy.”

Now Hearts for Heroes are seeking donations from the community to allow them to continue with their work. “If we had to put in an order for what we need, it would be money first to pay for shipping. Then, we need fabric, stuffing, thread, toiletries, books, DVDs — anything that can be packed for easy shipment,” Wheeler said.

The organization has collection cans for donated funds at Grooming By Kellie on South Elm Street and Heritage USA on East Hood Avenue in Sisters. Donated materials may be left at the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire Hall on South Elm Street.

“We are also seeking a donated building or space for working,” Wheeler said. “Because we are a (501) (c) (3) organization, this might be a nonprofit donation for the business or organization. We will pay utilities and phone.”

Hearts for Heroes plans a major fund-raising garage sale on May 21. Call Denise Wheeler at 549-1323 for the location of that meeting and for more information.