A Hurricane Katrina survivor assists the tiniest victims of the Texas floods
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Mimi Hymel, a Louisiana native who was born in the very hospital she donated to, made a heartfelt gesture by donating a collection of stuffed animals to the institution. This act of kindness is a testament to Hymel's belief in the power of comfort objects, especially during times of crisis.
Hymel's nonprofit organisation, Comfort Bears in a Catastrophe, has been at the forefront of supporting children affected by disasters since its inception. The nonprofit has distributed over 50,000 stuffed animals to children coping with the emotional trauma caused by various catastrophic events. These small, yet significant, comfort objects help children navigate through difficult circumstances after disasters.
The importance of stuffed animals was evident during the floodwaters at Camp Mystic, where a 9-year-old camper offered her top bunk as a safe place for campers to store their stuffed animals during the storm. This act of kindness underscores the emotional significance of these comfort objects for children.
Annie Gully, a mother from Houston, organised a donation drive for Comfort Bears after learning about the loss of an 8-year-old girl in floodwaters at Camp Mystic. Gully's drive collected over 1,100 stuffed animals in just three days. Gully, like Hymel, recognises the importance of providing comfort to children in crisis and has found hope in witnessing her community come together to donate comfort to the smallest victims of the floods in Kerr County.
Gully believes that children don't have an outlet to help after a crisis, but donating stuffed animals can provide a way for them to do so. This sentiment is echoed by Hymel, who has found a way of channeling her experience during Hurricane Katrina into helping today's youngest survivors.
Hymel was just 3 years old when Hurricane Katrina hit her Louisiana home in 2005. She remembers the sinking feeling she felt as her mom placed her and her sister in the car and drove away, leaving their dad behind to work at a nearby hospital. Hymel struggled to fall asleep for days after escaping the storm because she didn't have her favourite stuffed animal, Cuddles.
In the immediate aftermath of Katrina, Hymel noticed how some first responders or families would share photos of stuffed animals they recovered after a disaster. This experience inspired Hymel to write a series of children's books called "Miss Prepared and Captain Ready", which teach children disaster preparedness and encourage them to get involved.
Each stuffed animal donated by Comfort Bears is tagged with a card offering free crisis counseling through the national Disaster Distress Helpline. This thoughtful touch underscores the organisation's commitment to providing not only comfort but also access to essential mental health resources for families in need.
In a poignant turn of events, Annie Gully, inspired by the loss at Camp Mystic, has started selling "Mystic Strong" artwork, and the proceeds will be donated to charity in honor of the lives lost. This act of solidarity and resilience encapsulates the spirit of Comfort Bears in a Catastrophe, a nonprofit that continues to provide solace and support to children affected by disasters.
Us, recognizing the powerful impact that science and health-and-wellness can have on children in crisis, Mimi Hymel and Annie Gully have dedicated their efforts to establishing and supporting the nonprofit organization, Comfort Bears in a Catastrophe. This organization, through distributing over 50,000 stuffed animals, strives to not only provide comfort but also facilitate access to essential mental health resources via the national Disaster Distress Helpline.
