You’re never too young to lend a helping hand.
Four-Year-Old Girl Donates Over 1,000 Stuffed Animals to Kids Affected by Hurricane Helene
A little girl from Hendersonville, Tennessee, named Henley Castilon, has stepped up to help kids who have been struggling since the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
After Hurricane Helene made landfall on September 26, thousands of people faced devastating consequences from the storm. Many lost electricity, families lost their homes and belongings, and over 200 casualties have been reported. The storm destroyed multiple areas across six states, including parts of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina.
Many people have come together to support those in need, and that includes little Henley. As reported by News Channel 4 WSMV, she has collected over 1,000 stuffed animals so far to give to children whose lives were turned upside down by the Category 4 hurricane.
According to the outlet, Henley has autism, and her father says that she finds comfort in her own stuffed animals. She wanted the kids who have lost everything to feel that same comfort.
“That’s what always calms her down,” Henley’s father, Alex, said. “When she’s having a challenging day, her stuffed animals are what keep her going. She said all her friends out there had lost their stuffies, and she wanted to help get them some more.”
The collection of stuffed animals started with a post in a local Facebook group for moms, but it quickly grew beyond that as people across the area learned about Henley’s efforts. Even businesses in Tennessee began to contribute, and at one point, she received 600 donations in just one day.
Even though Henley is too young to fully understand the big impact of what she’s doing, her parents want to keep reminding her as she grows up how important it is to care for others and how it can really help.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to share with Henley as she gets older what having a good heart will do for the community,” Alex said. “We hope that that’s what we’re instilling in her, is that when she sees something that’s wrong or somebody that’s hurting, that she wants to reach out and help.”
“She has her own challenges and hardships,” Alex added. “But despite that, she thinks of others first.”
Henley’s parents said they are giving the stuffed animals to people with trailers who are going to the areas affected by the hurricane. From there, those people will hand them out to those in need.
If you want to help, the family is asking for donations to be sent to Lily’s Toy Box, a nonprofit organization that supports kids in need by collecting toys, stuffed animals, and books.