“The phone is meant to be used by those grieving a loss, providing them with the opportunity to ‘call’ a loved one that has passed away, to talk to them and share aloud in a meaningful way,” the Hospice of Northwest Ohio wrote in a Facebook post.
The Phone of the Wind originated in Japan following the 2010 tsunami. Paige Suelzer, an alumna of Bowling Green High School, designed the phone during her senior year. Inspired by a CBS News Sunday Morning story, she created it as part of her Girl Scouts project.
“I thought it could benefit our community, especially after COVID. People really needed somebody to talk to,” Suezler told Sentinal-Tribune. “I thought that could benefit people who had a sudden death in their family,” she added.
The phone is located at the 577 Foundation, 577 East Front St, Perrysburg. Similar phones can be found worldwide.
To find a list of all the Phones of the Wind located worldwide, visit thetelephoneofthewind.com/location-directory.
