Stuffed Animals for Children in Need

Smiles for Children also partners with homeless shelters and the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families by donating stuffed animals, coloring books/crayons and reading books for children entering foster care or living in shelters in the Commonwealth. There are currently 7,000 children entering foster care in Massachusetts annually, most of whom with few, if any, personal possessions. A gift of a stuffed animal offers these children, who have been involved in very painful circumstances, a source of comfort.

Why do emergency responders need stuffed animals? They give them to children who are

• Accident victims
• Victims of abuse or other crimes
• Witnesses to a crime
• Experiencing a traumatic event
• Coping with loss
• Sick and/or injured



An email excerpt from Kim, a mother whose 7 year old daughter received a stuffed animal and coloring book/crayons from police and fire fighters after being involved in a car accident:

"I want to thank your organization for everything that you do. I had never heard or seen your organization before but fully believe after our experience that it is a blessing to all children that go through a traumatizing experience. Your organization is so necessary during times like we experienced."