Feature Story 1: Pillowcase Project Name: Olivia Evans

White blankets, White sheets, and white room. Nothing special, colorful, or spectacular about
these white and stark hospital rooms. Day in and out, children sit stranded in a room of white.
Sick children getting shots in this white hospital room with nothing colourful to comfort them.

As the frigid and winter air swayed outside, junior Temeka Judson stayed in and cried. Cried
and cried over these sickly children and their strength and character. However instead of sitting
around doing nothing, she did something. Something that would bring joy to all of their faces,
and give them that little bit of comfort through these hardships.

“When I watched that special news cast on children’s hospital in the winter, I cried and cried.
I was touched by the strength and character of those children and their parents,” said Temeka.
“I knew I had to do something.”

Junior Temeka Judson started the Pillowcase Project after seeing how colorless hospital
rooms were for these ill children. She and seven other girls create colorful and fun pillowcases
to deliver to the hospitals these children are staying at. She hopes to bring happiness and safety
to these children, and she’s about to send out another batch of thirty pillow cases to another
hospital.

Judson loves color. Each wall of her room is painted with a different color. She however was
struck when she witnessed the blankness of the hospital rooms these children were staying at.
It was white all over, stark was one way to describe the rooms emptiness. She thought if she
could make these rooms just a little more exciting, then she could also bring the children
comfort.

“I thought if I could bring a little color into those rooms,” said Temeka. “I might be able to
bring a little happiness, too.

Judson first started by working up a group of friends to help her with this project. Money
wasn't an issue due to Temeka contacting local businesses to donate money for materials and
supplies. After receiving their set of crafts, they decided to get to work on the Pillowcase Project.

“It's a great group of girls,” said junior Sonia Bustamante. “And it’s so rewarding when a
finished pillowcase is added to our crate.”

The group meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
To make room for their pillowcase set up station, Temeka’s mother has converted the dining
room into their very own sewing room.

After sending out their first set of pillowcases (thirty to count) to the hospital on Feb.15 they
saw immediate cheerful expressions from these children. Their eyes lit and spirits lifted just a
little more.
Feature Story 1: Pillowcase Project Name: Olivia Evans

“It worked,” says Judson. “When we delivered our first set of pillowcases, I can't describe the
joy we saw in those children’s faces.”

One little girl that received a pillowcase, named Sara Gallegos, was ecstatic to receive one.
She picked out one scattered with bunnies and carrots and immediately named it ‘Whiskers.’
Sara’s mom explains the impact the pillowcase has done for Sarah.

“That pillowcase made a huge difference for Sara,” said Valeria Gallegos. “When she was
scared, she would hug it tight and tell us ‘Whiskers’ would protect her.

Temeka plans to deliver the second set on March 8 and hospital administration couldn’t be
more thrilled. The color and pure enjoyment it brought to these hospitalized children and the
impact it had would have never been predicted by parents and staff.

“I had no idea how much a pillowcase could mean to a little child,” said hospital administrator
Doug Lent. “I see children all over the hospital clutching their special pillow.”

Lent calls their project ‘colorful love.’ Not only were these girls giving out pillowcases for
these sick children but they were also sitting down and getting to know each child. Seeing the
child’s character and hearing out each one's story. They get to know their fears and dreams and
make a connection with these children.

Temeka’s plan is to have her group make more than 1,000 pillow cases before she sets off
for college. She thinks with a little more help and sewing machines, they’ll be able to reach her
goal in no time.

Temeka has faith in her next set of special pillowcases and hopes the colorful pillows will
bring joy once again to those who are in need of it.

“This week we are delivering some very special pillowcases — to the children in the cancer
ward of the hospital,” said Temeka. “Some of these children have spent half of their lives in a
hospital in those white, depressing rooms. I hope the colorful pillowcases bring these children
joy, too. They so need it.”
Feature Story 1: Pillowcase Project Name: Olivia Evans