How Parents Across America Are Replacing the 'Irreplaceable'
Small Gestures, Big Hearts:
The Lost Stuffy Project Story
Sometimes the smallest gestures carry the biggest love in our parenting community.
When tragedy struck Los Angeles in January, wildfires consuming over 12,000 structures and displacing countless families, two mothers watching from across the country felt compelled to help. But Randi and Jenny Jaffe didn't just send money or organize another relief drive. Instead, they saw something others might miss... the profound grief of children who'd lost not just homes, but their most treasured companions and comfort items.
Thus was born the LA Lost Stuffy Project, a grassroots effort to reunite displaced children with beloved stuffed toys and blankets lost in the fires. What started as an act of empathy has grown into something beautiful: a reminder that in our interconnected parenting community, love travels faster than tragedy.
The Magic of a Stuffed Unicorn Named Horn
Emily Balliet's story breaks your heart and puts it back together again. When her Altadena home burned down, her 4yr old son Yves lost everything—including Horn, his cherished stuffed unicorn. "This was just a pure blast of joy and he's running around screaming and all of us are smiling for the first time in a while because we can see his happiness," Balliet recalled when Yves received a replacement Horn. "And I was like, 'Alright, it's gonna be OK. We're in hell but there is, like, a little bit of light.'"
That little bit of light? It came from strangers who understood that some things can't be measured in dollars but are priceless beyond words in our family support network.
When Love Goes Viral: The Jonas Brothers and the Grammy Moment
The project's impact reached its most visible moment during the 2025 Grammy Awards, when the Recording Academy donated commercial airtime to highlight LA businesses and relief efforts affected by the fires. In a touching ad featuring the Jonas Brothers, the Lost Stuffy Project was showcased with the tagline "replacing the irreplaceable."
But here's what made it even more special: "As dads, we love what the Lost Stuffy Project is doing, so we are donating our personal stuffy collection," the Jonas Brothers said in the commercial. These weren't just celebrity endorsements—Nick, Joe, and Kevin Jonas opened their own homes, gathering up their personal stuffed animals to help children they'd never met. It's a beautiful reminder that parenthood creates an instant bond, whether you're a pop star or just another mom or dad trying to make things better for kids in crisis.
From LA Fires to Texas Floods: When Tragedy Spreads, So Does Love
Just as families in Los Angeles were beginning to heal, devastating floods hit Central Texas over Independence Day weekend. The death toll climbed to 109 victims, with 161 people still missing. Among the most heartbreaking losses were 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic, a Christian retreat for girls that had welcomed generations of Texas families.
The Lost Stuffy Project didn't hesitate. "We live in New Jersey and we were watching everything unfold on the news," Amanda Shankin, LSP's COO, told Scary Mommy. Within days, they were helping Texas families too, including one of the most gut-wrenching requests imaginable: a family member hoping to replace a Jellycat plush to place on top of a Camp Mystic victim's coffin.
When the item was out of stock, the team refused to give up. A woman who owned the exact item stepped forward, willing to donate it in time for the funeral in Houston. As Jaffee reflected, "The person that had it just thanked me profusely for allowing her the opportunity to do this. That's something she will carry with her for the rest of her life."
The Science Behind the Snuggles: Child Psychology and Comfort
Why does this matter so much? As parents, we intuitively know the answer, but child psychology research backs up what our hearts already understand. Studies show that comfort items alleviate stress while comforting children during times of trauma. These aren't just toys—they're "transitional objects" that help children develop independence and learn to comfort themselves.
Randi Jaffe, a certified child life specialist, explained: "We know that comfort items are key with kids—young kids all the way up through young adults. When families are displaced or experiencing trauma, obviously there's no control at all. So, this is such a small way to give kids back their control."
How the Magic Happens: Crowdsourcing Comfort
Here's where it gets beautiful. The Lost Stuffy Project operates through Instagram, where people submit photos of missing stuffed animals, blankets, or toys, and the sisters-in-law create "wanted" posts, asking their followers to help track down the lost item. The response has been incredible—people from all over the country are getting involved, donating to the cause, sleuthing online to find toys, or simply reposting to spread the word.
The real power of LSP is in its ability to connect people—and then stuffed animals—to one another. They even have what they playfully call "stuffy rehab"—a wonderful partner in Michigan who restores stuffed animals that need a little tender loving care.
A Beautiful Network of Care: Other Heroes in the Comfort Mission
The Lost Stuffy Project isn't alone in this mission. Across the country, a beautiful network of organizations has sprouted up, all dedicated to bringing comfort to children in crisis through the simple power of a stuffed animal donation.
Project Bear Hugs
Founded in 2013 by Hannah, has been a pioneer in this space. Over the past decade, they've delivered comfort items to thousands of disaster victims across multiple states—from collecting over 2,800 stuffed animals for children affected by the Moore, Oklahoma tornadoes to providing relief after hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. They've even launched a HopeLine Coaching Program offering free one-on-one support for disaster survivors.
Stuffed Animals for Emergencies (SAFE)
Has been quietly doing this work for 25 years. Run entirely by volunteers, SAFE takes in donations of new and gently used stuffed animals, blankets, books, children's clothes, and baby items, cleans them, and finds local organizations that can distribute them to children in traumatic or emotional situations. Their model is beautifully simple: 100% of donations go directly to children, never sold.
Comfort Bears in a Catastrophe
Takes a unique approach, providing teddy bears with hand-written encouraging cards that include access to 24/7 free professional counseling. Each bear becomes not just a comfort item, but a bridge to ongoing emotional support for families navigating disaster recovery.
What's remarkable about all these organizations is how they understand something fundamental: in times of crisis, the smallest gestures often carry the greatest impact. They've recognized that while disaster relief for kids naturally focuses on immediate survival needs—food, water, shelter—emotional comfort is equally critical, especially for children.
This Is the Heart of BUBS
Reading about the Lost Stuffy Project, we're reminded why BUBS exists. Yes, we're a parent marketplace where parents can safely trade kids' items. But we're so much more than transactions—we're a parenting community that understands the emotional weight these items carry.
Every toy, every piece of clothing, every book that changes hands in our marketplace carries a story. Maybe it's a stroller that safely carried a child through their first years. Maybe it's a dress-up costume that sparked countless adventures. Maybe it's a stuffed animal that provided comfort during a difficult transition.
When we trade with other parents on BUBS, we're not just exchanging goods—we're extending the love these items held in one home into another. We're creating a circle of care that says: children matter, their comfort matters, and sometimes the most important things can't be measured by their price tag.
Building Our Own Circle of Care
Reading these stories reminds us why we built BUBS not just as a marketplace, but as a true parenting community. That's why we've woven our blog right into the app, so you can read stories like this one while browsing for your next family treasure. But more importantly, we've created spaces for you to start your own conversations.
Maybe you're wondering if anyone else's toddler has formed an inexplicable attachment to a random kitchen spoon. Maybe you're looking for advice on transitioning away from a beloved pacifier. Maybe you want to share your own story about a comfort item that got your family through a tough time. Or maybe you just need to ask, "Has anyone else experienced this?" about whatever parenting curveball life just threw your way.
These conversations matter. When we share our stories—about the stuffies that can't be replaced, the hand-me-downs that carry love from one family to the next, the moments when community stepped in to help—we create the same kind of network that makes projects like the Lost Stuffy Project possible.
Every question asked, every story shared, every "you're not alone in this" response creates another thread in the web of support that helps us all be better parents. Because at the end of the day, whether we're reuniting children with lost comfort items or simply helping each other navigate the beautiful chaos of raising kids, we're all part of the same mission: making sure no parent has to figure it all out alone.
Join the BUBS Community
So come for the marketplace, but stay for the community. Share your stories, ask your questions, offer your wisdom, and help us prove that in a world full of noise, the quiet voice of one parent helping another can still change everything.
Want to learn more about the Lost Stuffy Project? Follow them on Instagram @loststuffyproject or visit their website at loststuffyproject.org. And remember: every time you choose community over convenience, you're part of creating a world where love finds a way.
Sources
Lost Stuffy Project Coverage:
- ABC News: "Moms launch 'Lost Stuffy Project' to reunite kids impacted by LA fires with stuffed toys"
- Good Morning America: "Moms launch 'Lost Stuffy Project' to reunite kids impacted by LA fires with stuffed toys"
- New York Family: "The Lost Stuffy Project: Two Moms Help Kids Reunite with Stuffies Lost in the LA Fires"
- Scary Mommy: "The Lost Stuffy Project Is Hoping To Reunite Comfort Objects With Kids In Texas"
Texas Floods Coverage:
- CBS News: "Texas flood rescue teams continue to search for scores of missing people as death toll climbs"
- The Texas Tribune: "Texas floods' death toll climbs to 109; 161 missing"
- NPR: "Texas flooding: Latest on search efforts, Camp Mystic death toll"
- CNN: "July 7, 2025: News on deadly Texas floods"
Grammy Awards Coverage:
- Billboard: "2025 Grammys Donate Commercial Airtime to L.A. Businesses With Help From Doja Cat & More"
- The Hollywood Reporter: "How Doja Cat, the Jonas Brothers and the Grammy Awards Buoyed Businesses Stricken by L.A. Fires"
Other Organizations:
- NOAA/National Weather Service: "WRN Ambassador Helping Ease the Impact on Children after Weather Disasters" (Project Bear Hugs)
- Comfort Bears in a Catastrophe: Official website and research page
- Stuffed Animals for Emergencies: Official website
- Gleaning for the Hungry: "Teddy Bear Brigade Bringing Hope To Children"
- Budsies: "Plush Replacement for LA Fires"
Research on Comfort Items:
- Comfort Bears in a Catastrophe: "Comfort Bears Research"
- Safari Ltd: "Lovies and Comfort Items for Kids: A Parent's Guide"
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