Testimonials

Our Mission..."To put a smile on the face of a Child in the time of need"

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Thank you again, Paul, What a great idea and gift to our communities.

You & Chris rock!! :^)

Anne Strauch

Community Engagement Coordinator

Appleton Police Department

Thank you for all that you do. we, the Cornell Police Department in Cornell, WI, are interested in receiving the B.A.C.K. packets. we are a small community (population 1500) in northwestern Wisconsin. our department has a Police Chief, two full-time officers and one part-time officer. Is there a request form to fill out or any other needed info - please let us know.

Thank you for such a great idea - may your wings continue to spread throughout the area.

Cornell Police Dept.

Kathy, Secretary

POLICE CHIEF WM. RIESTERER VALDERS POLICE DEPARTMENT—WONDERFUL PROGRAM.. THANKS!

Chief Wm. Riesterer

Valders Police Department

(920) 775-9700 Phone

Keep up the good work!

Sheriff Dale Schmidt

Washington County Sheriff

Good Morning,

In regards to your email, I am a recipient of your Back Pack program. I am the Sheriff of Kewaunee County, and have gotten your Back Packs out to Municipal Departments, and Rescue squads. Thank You again for all you do.

Have a great day!

Sheriff Matt Joski

Kewaunee County Sheriff's Department

Paul.

Just a quick note on a situation that occurred today.

Our department responded to a house fire in the Town of Montello this morning. Upon arrival fire was showing from the back of the home. All of the residents were out of the home and standing watching as their home burned. The home received extensive damage and is unlivable.

The home was occupied by a husband and wife and their 5 children ranging in age from 20yrs-3yrs. I arrived on scene and spoke with the officers and firemen on scene. We then used your program and began to give the books away. One of the girls noticed a “Charlottes Web” book and stated she would like to have it as the one she had just burned in the fire. I didn’t have the heart to restrict the number of books so I gave them the entire bag.

The family was very thankful.

The American Red Cross is attending to their needs and they will be housed in a hotel/motel temporarily until they can arrange long term housing.

Thanks again for supplying the book. I think it is making a impact in the emotional issues that victims go through.

Take Care.

Sheriff Kim V. Gaffney

Marquette County Sheriff's Department

From: Angela Notz

To: withwingsandahalo@tds.net

Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 8:04 AM

Subject: Officer's stories involving the program

Dear Paul,

We have received the books you sent our department and thank you for your prompt response. One of our officers, Jackie Dunlap, is very involved in handing out books to children in the area and she has provided two stories to share with you and your website regarding her experiences. Here are the stories:

I was dispatched for two children, ages 4 & 6 who walked away from their residence. I was told their father was out looking for them. I arrived at the residence and spoke to the father who told me he found his children at the playground. He explained to me that his children’s mother left four months ago. He stated he was doing the best he could to raise his children but stated they don’t always listen to him. He mentioned that he was not able to work because he did not have child care. I went to the playground and spoke with the children. I explained to them the importance of listening to their father and stressed that we just wanted them to be safe. After speaking with the children I gave them each a book. The father was extremely grateful. The children were very happy and thanked me. They couldn’t wait to get back home and look at their books. They told me they would always listen to their dad.

I gave a book to a toddler who was the victim of a dog bite. He was very tired by the time I met with him but I did get a smile! His parents were also very appreciative.

As more books are handed out and more stories occur, I will send them your way to share with everyone involved in the program. Thanks again!

Michelle Peterson

From: Stuart, Emily

Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 7:57 PM

To: Gaber, Randy

Subject: Books

Hi Asst. Chief Gaber-

I recently made use of the books supplied in the squads, and thought I'd share the story with you!

On January 2nd, I (along with my FTO Mike Hanson) responded to the Madison Bus Depot on Bedford to help a woman and her four children. She had traveled from the Chicago area to Madison on a whim to get away from an abusive boyfriend. She said that she spent Christmas with family, but he 'caught wind' of that, and she was fearful of what he might do to her and her children. She said that she heard Madison was a good place with good schools and decided to pack up all their belongings and move here. She arrived with no ties and no idea of what to do.

We assisted her by giving her numbers to the Salvation Army and Battered Woman's shelter, but we didn't feel right leaving the area until we knew what would happen to her and her children. She has twin 3 year olds (boy & girl), a 5 year old boy and an 8 year old girl. All the children were very polite, well spoken, and appeared to be happy to just be with their mother. While she was on the phone with the agencies, I thought to give the kids some books from the squad!

I came back with the bag, and had them each pick out a book. Their faces immediately donned smiles and they almost lined up to get a book! The eldest daughter picked out the journal, and said that she wanted to keep track of her 'new life' in a new city. The younger ones picked out Dora the Explorer books, and delightfully explained each of the characters to me. While mom was making additional phone calls, the youngest girl asked me to read her book to her - which I did, and the eldest daughter and I took turns reading pages to her. It was an 'interactive' book with flaps, and we had fun finding out what was under the flaps. Both the mother and children were very thankful for the gesture of the books. Even the other patrons in the Bus Station wore smiles as I was reading and talking with the kids! I left feeling better about my job knowing that simple contacts aided with things like the donated books can really make a difference. Mom ended up making contact with a social worker from the battered woman's shelter and was able to find housing for the night. I welcomed her and her family to the area, and left her with my card and asked her to call if she needed any additional assistance.

Thank you to you and the donors of the books, I hope this little note can help show what a difference the books made!

Respectfully,

Emily Stuart

From: Frank, Christopher

Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2007 9:24 AM

To: Balles, Joe; Gaber, Randy

Subject: With Wings and a Halo - REACH a child

On 12/29/07, I was dispatched to a two car minor injury crash at 1700 Northport Dr. One of the vehicles had 3 children as occupants. Two of the children complained about minor injuries. Their aunt, who was the vehicle operator, was taken to St. Mary's hospital by Madison Fire/Rescue for neck injuries. I had to travel to St. Mary's to issue the aunt a citation for Operating After Revoked. When I got there, I was able to offer each of the three children books from the backpack that was provided in my squad. Each of the children, who were upset that their aunt was in the hospital, were more than happy to accept a book from me. It really changed their moods visibly as they were very excited to receive the books. The grandmother of the boys thanked me profusely for the books, but suggested in the future possibly having some more books geared to little boys (science, dinosaurs, trucks, etc...)

PO Christopher Frank 4000

From: Slawek, Andrew

Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 2:18 PM

To: Gaber, Randy

Subject: RE: With Wings and a halo - REACH a child

While in for a jail clearance at St.Marys, noticed three kids waiting with mom as dad was being tended to for serious emergency care. The kids were restless, the mother at wits end as to what to do with the kids AND be worried about the husband.

I let the kids each pick two books and it quieted them down and they were busy with them for the next 1 hour giving the mom a break. Mom says "Thank you"

Also, to a house on Webb Ave I gave two blankets and two books to kids who use video games as their source of babysitter/entertainment. Mom and boyfriend in confrontation in front of kids. Kids liked the books and immediately put the game down and went through the books like it was a new toy for our entire time there. Mom's house cold to not pay so much for heating, thus the blankets given also.

PO Andy Slawek

Testimonials

Hi Paul

We already need some more books for a few of the backpacks! Our VCR team volunteers have been especially busy with kids lately, unfortunately. How do I go about refilling these?

About 2 days after receiving the packs I had to help with a 7 yr old for awhile. I didn't realize there were stickers in some of the packs. She went nuts...loved it! I couldn't get her to sit still long enough to actually read a whole book, but she sure loved the idea of having some of her "own" things to take with her wherever she would be going to. So sad.

A week later an officer ran by me carrying two packs. He had a huge smile on his face. He said "these kids are going to love these...this is really, really going to help. Thank you." I realized it too late that he was most likely giving them the whole backpack!

I immediately sent out yet another reminder on how the backpacks are to be used. But, ohhh, there were some really happy kids and one proud cop! I believe you'll realize it was well worth it...mistake and all! (But I'll be sure to continue to remind them...ONE book!)

"Our Story..." (from the C.E.O.)

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