Hunter Amidon decided that the homeless need a pillow to hug as much as he does, so he began a program to make pillows for the homeless. Hunter is seen here with his mother, Patricia. (Photo by Adela Crandell Durkee/for Chronicle Media)

“If you don’t help me, I’ll find someone who will,” said Hunter Amidon, Patricia Amidon’s eighth-grade son. That’s when she knew her son’s obsession to make pillows for the homeless would become a reality.

Through learning to sew, Hunter, who has autism, decided the homeless need a pillow to hug as much as he does. Pat learned early that the “tightest hug possible” goes a long way in helping Hunter deal with sensory overload. Hunter learned to hug a pillow as part of his coping mechanism.

“[The homeless] will know that God loves them and everything will be OK,” is the reason Hunter gave Pat for why he wanted to make the pillows.

Although the Amidons live in Marengo, Hunter gets bussed to District 47 Lindahl Middle School in Crystal Lake. Lindahl’s ASPIRE Program (Achieving Social Pragmatics and Individual Relationships Everywhere) affords Hunter the resources he needs, including a “motor room,” between the two classrooms that the nine students share. The motor room provides swings and other motor activities to help students cope with sensory overload. Hunter’s classroom is designed for students with autism or those who have autistic behaviors.

Besides the adaptive classroom where he learns the basics like reading, writing, and mathematics, Hunter joins other students for art, life skills, and music. Lion Buddies, student volunteers who learn about autism, go with the ASPIRE students to the mainstream classes as assistants. In life skills classes, Hunter learned to sew. That’s where “Hugs From Hunter” was born.

“Hunter began bugging me about making pillows for the homeless,” Patricia said. She told her son she didn’t have the time or the resources to do what he wanted. Patricia works two jobs to help make ends meet.

When Hunter persisted and brushed off his mother’s concerns with, “We don’t need anything. God will provide me with what I need,” Patricia ran out of reasons to say no.

Soon Hunter rallied students and educators to help him sew. It grew from there.

“Friends of Hunter” expanded to include local churches, family, friends, and other people from the community. Everyone pitched in with supplies and time to help Hunter fulfill his goal. A friend created a Facebook page, “Hugs From Hunter,” where people can come together for support and encouragement.

“Friends of Hunter” will deliver 50 or more pillows and cook dinner at County PADS Crystal Lake on Nov. 20. On Nov. 18, the group plans to deliver 50 pillows to residents of Florence Nursing Home in Marengo. Each pillow has a little tag, “Hugs from Hunter,” to remind the recipient of the boy behind the comfort.

It’s often been said about charitable work, that the giver receives as much as the gifted. According to his mother, in Hunter’s case that is certainly true.

“Hunter has grown so much socially through ASPIRE and the “Hugs From Hunter” project,” said Pat.

As many proud mothers, she can’t say enough good things about her son and the people who helped bring his dream to fruition.

— Marengo youth’s persistence brings comfort to homeless–