Sharon Harmsen is sending her own kind of relief to victims of last month's East Coast terrorist attacks. The Underwood, woman and some lady friends, who call themselves the "Critter Repair Crew", have been busy the last few weeks getting 205 refurbished stuffed animals ready to send to family members of victims of the World Trade Center attack.
"I just wanted to help in some way," Harmsen said. She began repairing used stuffed animals 12 years ago as a way to reach out to , as she says, "people who are just needing a hug." She began by collecting used stuffed bears, washing them and making necessary repairs-sewing on new eyes or ears or mending holes-and giving them to various organizations around the Mid-Columbia. Local groups, from unwed mothers to Alcoholics Anonymous, have been recipients of Harmsen's efforts, which have expanded to include other stuffed animals and, occasionally, dolls. During the holidays, many of her refurbished stuffed animals go to local schools and are given out to needy children.
After Harmsen's husband died three years ago, she met some other widows at a bereavement group and soon they'd joined her in repairing the stuffed animals.
"We decided we didn't like being called 'the widows'," Harmsen said, laughingly. "So, hence the name."
Harmsen and her "crew" get stuffed animals donated to them from various places, and in various states of disrepair.
"Sometimes I come home and find them on my steps," Harmsen said. "I have no idea who gives them to me." She washes them, then hangs them to dry by their ears in her laundry room.
When she and her ladies get together to visit, they mend, sew appendages, tie ribbons, and attach stories written on cards about the "critters" that tell of how they will provide unconditional love if they are hugged each day.
The first year Harmsen began refurbishing stuffed animals, she gave away about 60 of them. Last year she and the Critter Repair Crew repaired and distributed 1,400.
Harmsen approached Annie Simonds of the Hood River Chapter of the American Red Cross about sending some refurbished stuffed animals to victims of the attacks. Simonds, in turn, did some research about where they should go.
"I checked with (the national office) and found out that New Jersey was where a lot of the Red Cross family services volunteers were going out to," Simonds said. "A lot of the victims worked at the World Trade Center and lived in New Jersey."
Simonds arranged for Federal Express to donate the shipping costs through the Red Cross Disaster Relief account.
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