Items washed away during the flood, and efforts being made to recover and restore them; individuals undertaking tasks to recover lost belongings
In the aftermath of the devastating Texas floods, thousands of people from across the country have come together to form a network aimed at reuniting salvaged items with their rightful owners or providing replacements. One such organization leading this effort is The Lost Stuffy Project, based in New Jersey.
The Lost Stuffy Project, founded by child life specialist Randi Jaffe, is currently working to replace lost stuffed animals for children in Texas. Chris Oliphant, 51, a member of the project, recently found a Camp Mystic shirt while searching for a friend's son's belongings. Tragically, the shirt belonged to a girl who did not survive. Oliphant plans to mail the claimed items to their owners or their families.
Amid the sadness and grief, there are glimpses of joy as some found items are being returned to their owners. Pam Nelson Harte, 62, was recently reunited with her scrapbook after a friend spotted it in a news clip, leading to a flurry of Facebook messages.
Dondi Voigt Persyn, 54, from Boerne, is a steward of a Facebook group dedicated to returning items found along the river to families and survivors. Voigt Persyn and a friend clean and organize items found, using OxiClean, Dawn dish soap, and vinegar to remove mildew.
Search efforts initially focused on finding people, but now also include finding and salvaging personal items. Katy Tidwell, 38, drove nearly five hours from Conroe to help with the search-and-rescue efforts, as her son was killed nearly three months ago. Many find purpose in the seemingly small gesture of returning salvaged items to their owners.
The Lost Stuffy Project connects families with others elsewhere in the country who are willing to give their child's toy away. The project combines through submissions and posts photos of lost stuffed animals on Instagram for their followers to track down. In under 30 minutes, they successfully found a match for a cornflower blue blanket on a resale website.
For those seeking organizations or initiatives helping replace lost or salvaged treasured possessions of children affected by the Texas floods, several active relief groups focusing on survivor and family support in Central Texas are available. These include the Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN), the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, Salvation Army, United Cajun Navy, Texans on Mission, UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), and the American Red Cross.
To connect directly with support that may help replace children’s treasured possessions, reaching out to the Austin Disaster Relief Network, American Red Cross, and local relief organizations mentioned by the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country is recommended. Local Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARC) in affected cities like Georgetown may offer centralized access to various aid services, including property and sentimental item recovery efforts.
In summary, organizations to contact include:
- Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN)
- American Red Cross (hotline: 1-800-RED CROSS)
- Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and its partner nonprofits (e.g., Salvation Army, United Cajun Navy, Texans on Mission)
- Local Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARC)
These groups provide coordinated relief efforts that include supplying children with replacement items and emotional support after the flooding. Keli Rabon, 40, had struggled to find the exact cornflower blue blanket her 7-year-old son, Brock, had left behind when evacuating Camp La Junta in Kerrville, Texas. Along the riverbanks and in yards, there are pieces of life such as a stuffed unicorn, photographs, a red and green Christmas stocking, and various trinkets. These organizations offer a glimmer of hope for families seeking to reclaim their lost treasures.
- The Lost Stuffy Project, which specializes in replacing lost stuffed animals for children, has combined efforts with several organizations to help families affected by the Texas floods find and reclaim their lost treasured possessions, including the Austin Disaster Relief Network (ADRN), the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, and local Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARC).
- In the home-and-garden section of her house, Pam Nelson Harte discovered a newfound love for cleaning and organizing items found along the riverbanks, using cleaning products like OxiClean, Dawn dish soap, and vinegar to remove mildew, demonstrating how even the smallest actions can improve lives (lifestyle).
