A 71-year-old Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office volunteer is making handmade blankets to comfort children and adults during traumatic calls.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office volunteer is turning a personal hobby into a way to help people during some of their hardest moments.
Sallie Ashton, 71, has volunteered with the Sheriff’s Office for three years. She takes reports involving lower-level crimes, helping free deputies to handle more serious calls.
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Outside of her volunteer work, Ashton makes soft, hand-looped blankets.
The idea began after she lost a foster dog and taught herself the technique. She initially donated blankets to animal rescue organizations before realizing they could also help people experiencing trauma.
Ashton approached her supervisor about donating blankets to the Sheriff’s Office.
The department plans to make them available to deputies responding to calls involving domestic violence, child abuse and other situations where someone may need comfort.
“It’s almost like a hug,” Ashton said.
Small blankets can take about 20 minutes to make, while larger ones may take several hours. Ashton said she enjoys choosing different colors and designs.
“I just want them to provide comfort to people that are going through something traumatic,” she said.
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