"Comfort For Kids"
This particular story of my life begins in March 2006. I was in the second grade when after a normal school day my parents found a bump at the back of my skull. After some blood testing and MRI's I was scheduled for surgery to get what was found to be tumor removed. The day of the surgery my surgeon and doctors talked me through what would happen during the surgery. Being only eight years old at that time, through my eyes this was a very frightening and new event that I had very little understanding about. I remember being so scared and just wanting to get the surgery over with. Then came the part where I was drastically affected for the rest of my life. A volunteer working in the Child Life specialist of the children's hospital came to my room with a little red wagon full of different stuffed animals ranging from purple teddy bears to green giraffes. That's when I received a teal teddy bear with a navy blue bow that I named after my surgeon "Mr. Moss". From that point on I forgot about the surgery and became relaxed, clinging on tight to my new friend. After the surgery I considered my new teddy bear my guardian angel because it gave me comfort during a hard time.
That's why I created Anna's Closet. Partnering with Stuffed Animals For Emergencies, I opened a chapter to receive donated stuffed animals from around Minnesota, while also holding local drives in my community. To be able to give back and provide that same comfort that I received through a stuffed animal is my heart's ambition. The stuffed animals not only go to children's hospitals, but also homeless shelters, and first responders to give to children that may be going through a frightening and unfamiliar point in their life. My goal is to not only make an emphasis on how simple donating a stuffed animal is, and show that it also makes the WORLD of a difference to the child receiving it. It is also, through this opportunity, to inspire those children that there is hope and comfort, no matter what situation they are going through. Even to this day I still have my teddy bear I received and it still has an important place in my heart. It's because of someone taking the short amount of time to donate it that I didn't feel scared anymore, but ultimately, would end up inspiring me to give back what someone was able to give to me. That is comfort through something as simple as a stuffed animal.
That's why I created Anna's Closet. Partnering with Stuffed Animals For Emergencies, I opened a chapter to receive donated stuffed animals from around Minnesota, while also holding local drives in my community. To be able to give back and provide that same comfort that I received through a stuffed animal is my heart's ambition. The stuffed animals not only go to children's hospitals, but also homeless shelters, and first responders to give to children that may be going through a frightening and unfamiliar point in their life. My goal is to not only make an emphasis on how simple donating a stuffed animal is, and show that it also makes the WORLD of a difference to the child receiving it. It is also, through this opportunity, to inspire those children that there is hope and comfort, no matter what situation they are going through. Even to this day I still have my teddy bear I received and it still has an important place in my heart. It's because of someone taking the short amount of time to donate it that I didn't feel scared anymore, but ultimately, would end up inspiring me to give back what someone was able to give to me. That is comfort through something as simple as a stuffed animal.