Michigan's SAFE - (Stuffed Animals for Emergencies) volunteer and local chapter representative, Stephanie Herring contacted MAFF Program office to offer the SAFE program to interested police and fire departments.

SAFE (founded in 1997) accepts new and gently used stuffed animals (SAFE volunteers wash, clean, repair, and add bows and decorations to the stuffed animals to make them like new again) to redistribute to Police, Fire & Rescue, Ambulance Services, Children's Homes, Hospitals, Life Flight, and other emergency organizations. The emergency organizations use the stuffed animals to ease the children's nerves and calm their fears when they are caught in traumatic, emotional, and transitional situations.

Emergency personnel looking to receive gently used or new Stuffed Animals For Emergencies may obtain additional information by contacting the MAFF Office at 1-800-368-1159.

Those interested in donating stuffed animals may visit the SAFE website at: http://stuffedanimalsforemergencies.org/chapters.htm

Or contact Suzanne Baker at: suzbaker@twmi.rr.com