August 4, 2022
The Kiwanis Club of Bradford is once again distributing trauma dolls to area agencies and the local hospital to assist providers in helping children cope in difficult situations.
The blank dolls are packaged with crayons for children to draw on to express their emotions or to describe where they are in pain or where they hurt. Each child keeps their doll to hug for comfort.
The program began in 2016 with the distribution of 100 dolls and has continued annually ever since. The overwhelming response led to the request of another 52 dolls this year.
Kiwanis Club members and friends cut, sewed, stuffed, and packaged the dolls for distribution.
Agencies previously receiving the dolls include the YMCA preschool program, Bradford City Police, Bradford and Foster Township Police, along with the Bradford City Fire Department Ambulance, Bradford Area School District, Children’s Advocacy Center of McKean County, McKean County Department of Human Services, YWCA Victims Resource Center, as well as BRMC’s Emergency Department, pediatrics, First Step Medical Clinic, and others.
The program helps Kiwanis meet the objective of “Serving the Children of the World.”
Agencies that would be able to use these dolls can contact the Kiwanis Club of Bradford for more information.
Area agencies receive Trauma Dolls from Kiwanis Club | News | bradfordera.com