Our Founder - Cammie Sanders

Project SAFE - Reaching Out To Children In Traumatic Situations

All across the United States, individuals and groups are reaching out to participate in a very special project - Project SAFE. SAFE, or the Stuffed Animals For Emergencies, provides stuffed animals to emergency services such as the Police Department, Fire Department, Ambulance services, as well as Children's homes and shelters, which are then be given to children caught in traumatic, emotional, and transitional situations. This project was founded by Florida native Cammie Sanders, during the holidays of 1997. Ms. Sanders, who was Ms. US Continental 2002, continued the project until August of 2004 and now project SAFE, is headed up by Cheryl Famigletti of Texas.

Project SAFE receives donations of new or used stuffed animals from all over the United States. Previously "loved" stuffed animals are washed and mended so that they are like new again. The animals are then given to services that might encounter a child who is scared, injured, traumatized, or may have lost a parent. Many of the institutions that have received items from this project include: Fire & Rescue Departments, Police & Sheriff Departments, Life Flight Ambulance, ambulance services, hospitals, Guardian Ad Litem programs, and the Children's Home Society, just to name a few. The project has even sent stuffed animals to New York for the families of the victims of the 9/11 tragedy, to California to be given to abused children through the Dr. Laura Slessinger Foundation, and to Illinois for the Children's Advocacy Center, just to name a few more. Since the projects inception over 23,000 stuffed animals have been received and distributed throughout the country.

If you wish to start your own Project SAFE, email Cheryl Famigletti for more information.