Harris Supply helps troops with pillows
Comfort is a rare commodity for American soldiers serving overseas in Iraq and
Afghanistan, but Harris Pillow Supply is hoping to change that with its “Pillows for Patriots” program.
The 51-year old family owned company out of Beaufort, SC, launched the
initiative in late July after Barb Farrior had come to them seeking materials
to make pillows for her Army captain son and his military unit.
Justin Farrior was about to head off to Iraq for his third overseas campaign.
Thus, he was quite familiar with how uncomfortable it is to sleep on the ground
with only a pack or a rolled up shirt for head support.
Barb Farrior had gotten the idea after watching a segment on The Today Show
about a sewing school in Midland Park, NJ, that had sent more than a thousand
pillows to troops who had been deployed overseas.
Realizing there was a pillow manufacturer conveniently located in her hometown,
she contacted John and Patrick Harris, the father and son team who serve as
president and vice president of Harris Pillow Supply.
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So far, over 3,000 pillows altogether have been manufactured and distributed as
part of the charitable program.
In fact, as the notoriety of “Pillows for Patriots” continues to increase, so have the amount of donations being contributed by the
public to keep it funded.
“I know a lot of people are wondering what can you send over there because there
are very few things they can carry around with them,” Harris noted. “But, this is actually pretty well received on their end.”
Ordinary-sized pillows would not work as soldiers have no choice but to travel
fast and light. So, Harris Supply chose to make them at a very compact size.
“They’re very small. They can be rolled up and shoved in a pocket,” Harris explained. “We actually vacuum pack them when we ship them so it doesn’t cost as much on freight and so they can easily get them on a plane or in the
cargo area of a plane to get them to the hot zones.”
Many of the requests are for troops that haven’t been deployed yet, so the pillows are also small enough for soldiers to carry
them in their packs whenever they do ship out.
So far, donations have come from all over. Those who are interested in
contributing can contact Barb Farrior at (843) 525-9262 or Jenny Bush at (843)
525-6578.
They can also be contacted by e-mail: bfarrior@charter.net or
bluecrab2@islc.net.
Harris noted that the company will continue to make and ship the pillows as long
as there is a need and donations continue to pour in.
“Even if the donations stop and they need them, I am sure we’ll be willing to help out in anyway we possibly can,” he noted. “We’re pretty excited to be a part of something like this. It’s the least we can do for those guys and we hope they come home safe.”
