Feature Story 1: Pillowcase Project Name:

The heart breaking stories of children fighting through their sickness is what inspired
Tameka to add a little happiness to their lives. The white walls, white sheets, white pillows made
her think about her room filled with color and how being her in her room made her happy.
That’s when she came up with the idea to make colorful pillowcases for the kids in the hospital.
She got some of her friends, a few businesses to donate to her, and that's when they started to
make their difference. The girls delivered their second set of 30 pillowcases to the cancer ward
of the hospital on March 8.
“I want this group to make more than 1,000 pillowcases for hospitalized children before I go
off to college,” junior Tameka Judson said. “With a few more sewing machines and a few more
volunteers, we will do it.”
A lot of people wouldn’t think one pillowcase would make a difference, but they brought so
much joy to these kids. It was not just the pillowcases, the girls talked to the kids about their
story and dreams.
“These pillowcases bring so much wonderful energy to the hospital,” hospital administrator
Doug Lent said. “I never dreamed this would be the outcome.”
The pillowcases brought more than just color to the room, it brought the kids comfort from
everything they’re going through.
“The pillowcases make a huge difference for our Sara,” one of the kids in the hospital's
mom, Valeria Gallegos, said. “When she was scared, she would hug it tight and tell us ‘whiskers’
would protect her.”
The girls did not have to know how to sew or make a pillowcase, but just being a part of the
group making a difference is what mattered.
‘I am not very good on the sewing machine, so I do most of the cutting and pinning,” junior
Sonia Bustamante said. “It sounds kind of boring, but I loved every minute of it.”
The walls were a pristine white, no one, nonetheless a kid could find a positive side to all
the things they’re going through.
“I was struck by all the whiteness of the hospital rooms. Everything was white and stark.”
Tameka Johnson said. “I thought if i could bring a little color into these rooms, i might be able to
bring a little happiness too.”