Teddies donated to support local communities in emergencies

Coral recently donated her Trauma Teddies to Clyde CFA

 

Clyde community member Coral Van Dyk has been making Trauma Teddies for emergency services for 20 years.

 

She recently got in contact with Clyde CFA to make a donation, dropping off a bag full of the homemade teddies to help CFA support the community.

Trauma Teddies are sometimes given to comfort children experiencing emergencies when available. They are used as a way to calm and distract children at potentially distressing times.

The brigade expressed gratitude for the kindness, noting they are grateful to have such a supportive community.

“We thank Coral for her kind donation, and to all of our community members that support the brigade. We are a 100 per cent volunteer brigade, as all CFA brigades are, so the support means a lot,” Captain Stuart Bluck said.

When asked about why she started making the Trauma Teddies, Coral shared she was having a hard time at work and was encouraged to find a hobby. She quickly got into embroidery, which marked the start of creating the teddies.

“So I started embroidering on an embroidery machine, and then I discovered all these patterns and thought: ‘oh, I can make these for every service around’,” Coral said.

“I also do a lot of work for foster kids too, which is from my heart. It just makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

“I just want to have something in the glove boxes of all the services, trucks and things so that if little children get hurt or are in a fire, it will distract them. I can't stand the thought of a little baby in a car crying.

“A lot of people hold onto the Trauma Teddies for years. Some have told me they've still got them from when they were little.

“I’m retired now, so this keeps me out of trouble and busy. This just makes me feel good.”

Clyde CFA thanks Coral not only for her donation, but for allowing them to share the story behind this act of kindness.

 

Submitted by	Olivia Duffey