Stuffed Animal Story
Donated animals with the daughter of a Compassion Katy volunteer
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This story begins with my niece, Rachael, who is in 5th grade. She was upset seeing so many kids without homes and even some of the kids who had been separated from their parents. Rachel talked to her Mom about how lonely and sad those children were probably feeling. She felt like this was such a frightening situation for the kids, not knowing if they would ever have a home to go back to. And for those who had been separated from their parents, if they would ever be able to find them.
Rachael told her Mom that when she is feeling sad, lonely or frightened she likes to hold her favorite stuffed animal. Rachael decided that she wanted to help the kids displaced by Katrina by giving them a stuffed animal to hold. |
After asking permission from her Mom, Rachael asked her teacher if the class could collect stuffed animals for displaced children. My sister, Rachel’s Mom, called me to see if I knew of any kids who might be able to use stuffed animals that her class might collect. At that point The Fellowship at Cinco Ranch was working diligently to help displaced persons at two different fire stations. There were some kids staying at those fire stations that I thought might benefit most from the stuffed animals. I figured my niece and her classmates might collect anywhere between 15 and 30 stuffed animals so I told her if her class could collect the stuffed animals, I'd make sure that they got distributed to the kids in the fire stations.
Rachel, along with her Mom, met with her teacher to let her know about the offer. Her teacher was so impressed with Rachael's heart for these kids and her desire to do something that would help them, that she recruited the other 5th grade classes in their school. As a result of her enthusiasm, 108 stuffed animals were all collected by 4 classes of 5 th graders. The excitement created by the students in Rachel’s grade level flowed over to her church as well. Her pastor decided to hold a church-wide stuffed animal drive, which brought in 240 stuffed animals. Some of them were homemade, some were brand new, but all were sent with love and with the hopes that a child would be comforted.
Rachel followed her heart and God multiplied her compassion in order to comfort children who were in need.
From one little girl’s heart, many children have been blessed. We recently provided Christmas for 53 children. These stuffed animals went a long way towards helping restore happiness to little ones.
We look forward to the New Year – anxious to see the ways near and far that God will work to help meet needs we don’t even know exist yet. Please continue to watch our site for new changes and information regarding the New Year as we journey on as God leads.
Merry Christmas, blessings and love to all.
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