DANVILLE KIWANIS

News release

There are far too many life situations that can cause discomfort for children. These circumstances can range from feeling anxious in a new school setting or challenging therapy session to feeling frightened after being removed from home because of neglect and/or abuse to the overwhelming experience of a doctor’s office or hospital due

to illness or injury.

With all of this in mind, the First Lady of the Kiwanis Kentucky/Tennessee District launched the Kiwanis Comfort Dolls Project in October 2018. The concept is pretty simple; a basic pattern, soft fabric and stuffing are used to create and distribute cuddly and unadorned dolls that can serve many purposes. The dolls can be utilized as a reward for accomplishing a goal in therapy, for comfort when feeling frightened in an unfamiliar setting and even as an aid for medical personnel to show a child what will happen during a procedure.

The Kiwanis Club of Danville has embraced this initiative as evidenced by the work put into creating a supply of the comfort dolls and by the local agencies who have already benefited from receiving them.

Thus far, the Kiwanis Club of Danville has made and distributed Kiwanis Comfort Dolls to benefit children served by Wilderness Trace Child Development Center, Sunrise Children’s Services, CASA of the Bluegrass and social services. The club is also working to create an additional supply of the dolls for area children served by local pediatricians, hospitals, hospice care and for those who are in bereavement.

Danville Kiwanis Club President Robert Cunningham shares that this project is very meaningful to the service club. “Our members have servant’s hearts and are always inspired to be involved with a hands on opportunity to benefit local children. The agencies and organizations receiving Kiwanis Comfort Dolls serve a vulnerable population in our community and our club feels both honored and blessed to provide for them in this way” said Cunningham.

For more information about Kiwanis, contact Denise Henderson at denise.henderson@utgins.com.