by Leisa Parsons, Area Media Specialist
Generally considered the southern limit of the Texas Hill Country, Uvalde is usually a quiet city. Before Tuesday, few people outside of south central Texas had probably heard of it. Now, it is on everyone’s lips, minds and hearts. Many across the area are mourning with the people of Uvalde.
Young adults from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wanted to do something. Working with a school administrator from Uvalde and other Church officials in the area, they quickly organized a stuffed animal drive. Through social media the word spread quickly and within hours, hundreds of stuffed animals were showing up at the Church’s Center for Young Adults in San Antonio.
“It wasn’t much.. but it was something.. and sometimes something is just DOING something” said Kristen Pack, a mother of three young girls from San Antonio, she continued: “Like many of you, my heart has been so heavy these past couple of days. My two girls, both the same ages of the angels that were taken from this world, are feeling it too.” Pack and her girls learned about the stuffed animal drive, and they wanted to be a part of it.
Young adults and other volunteers wrote notes for each stuffed animal. Their notes expressed their love and thoughts, some included testimonies of Christ’s healing power. Neal Jeppson, of the Center said, “We lift burdens with Jesus as we work together.”
President Ross Davidson, District President of the Church in the area said, “Each toy animal had a love note attached expressing words of encouragement and comfort to the recipient.” He said as soon as the toys were laid out on the table in the Uvalde Civic Center several little children approached it to select their toy. He continued, “The shy smiles on their faces as they walked away with their new found friend were priceless.”
Susan Rios, Director of Tourism and the Uvalde Civic Center said the stuffed friends and especially the accompanying love notes would be very helpful to provide a calming and healing influence. President Davidson said, “The gift is a timely, heartfelt offering to those who are suffering such a profound loss at this time.”
“Heartfelt” truly describes Pack’s girls.
She wrote: “As I looked into the faces of my kids yesterday. I watched them conscientiously choose just the right color of marker to use to write a note with… just the right ribbon to coordinate colors on each stuffed animal. I watched them cross out words… and sentences… start over on the backside of a notecard as they struggled to find just the right words. I watched them carefully place their little fingers after each word to make sure the spacing was just right, just as they had been taught in school. They wanted their message to be very clear. Love. Hope. Peace. Kids are incredible teachers. The only thing my girls knew about these other children was that they were suffering, and as simple as their offering was… it was something.”
She continued: “There was no debate about what caused the horrific tragedy… no fingers were pointed. Just quiet reflection and the occasional question,
“‘Do you think they will know that we love them?’
“My takeaway from yesterday was this…
“Do something. Do it in a way that results in a feeling of becoming whole again, not further splintered.
“Do something. Do it in a way where love and peace can fill the space where separation once existed.
“Do something. So that when the dust settles, the residue that is left in your heart and in your soul creates conditions where compassion, connection and charity towards others (regardless of differing opinions) can flourish.”
If you want to “do something” the best course at this point is to donate money through two funds (100% of all funds will go directly to those affected in Uvalde): The Robb School Memorial Fund and the Uvalde Strong Fund.