Everett Police and Project Delta team up to help children in crisis situations

Project Delta program introduced at Police Roll Call on Feb. 12

Special to The Advocate

The Everett Police Department welcomed Mark Aubuchon of Project Delta to speak during their afternoon roll call, to introduce this unique new program to the City of Everett’s first responders. Project Delta is designed to provide first responders in police, fire and EMS departments with stuffed animals for kids in crisis situations. For free, Project Delta provides multiple stuffed animals in a small drawstring backpack called a kit. The kits are placed in cruisers for officers to hand out a stuffed animal to a child during a traumatic or frightening crisis call. The content of the kit can be given out at an officer’s discretion. The bag can also be used as an emergency carry-all for a child’s belongings.

The idea for Project Delta was borne out of its founder having an excess of stuffed animals due to his autistic son’s uncanny ability to beat what is commonly known as the crane (claw) game. Having mastered the game, his son soon found himself with an excess of these animals. Out of this excess, Project Delta was created.

Mayor Carlo DeMaria stated, “I would like to thank Project Delta and Everett resident Peter Demirdjian of the Mt. Vernon Galilean Lodge for sponsoring to help bring this wonderful program to our City.”

He continued, “Chief Strong, Community Outreach officer Nicole O’Donnell and all of our EPD officers work very hard to ensure that any and all available programs that will benefit our residents and especially our youth, are implemented smoothly and efficiently and this is just another example of their great work ethic.”