Books for All Age Groups to Aid and Comfort Victims

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard announced March 28 that his office received authorization to accept $3,000.00 worth of books and supplies from the Books to the Rescue organization.  These books will be assigned to Domestic Violence Unit Deputies, Road Patrol, and Detectives and will be used during calls involving children or when children are present.

Local organizer of Books to the Rescue, Hilary Ruckdaschel, contacted the Sheriff’s Office late last year with the donation and at the last county legislature meeting, the Sheriff’s Office received authorization to accept the books and supplies.

“This is another tool my deputies can use to provide aid and comfort to children who were present at a disturbance or victim of a horrible crime.  A large part of my Deputies’ job is to provide care to victims and books can calm a child and help them recover,” explained Sheriff Howard.

Books to the Rescue program began in Greene County, Ohio in 2015, and now serves as a model program nationwide.  The program is reaching child victims by placing books in police vehicles, fire and EMS trucks, domestic violence units, hospitals, court systems, victim advocacy centers, foster care programs, and many other agencies that assist child victims.

Sheriff Howard continued, “I want to thank Hilary Ruckdaschel and Books to the Rescue for the generous donation and recognize their commitment to helping the many child victims with this tremendous program.”

The Erie County Sheriff’s Office is the first agency in Erie County to partner with Books to the Rescue, and there are plans by the group to raise additional funds for more books and supplies.