Crystal Hunt and Lois Hunt volunteered at Thrive Worship Center Saturday to stuff the animals and help ship them out into the community. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

VIENNA — In West Virginia, there are more than 6,000 children in foster care, either a residential placement or kinship home.

According to Laurea Ellis, community service manager for Wood County with the Department of Health and Human Resources, more than 300 of those kids are in Wood County.

“The number is fluid, meaning that it changes daily as some kids are adopted or able to be placed back with their own family and new children enter into the system,” she said.

Foster families are always needed, but being a foster parent isn’t for everyone. Still, there are a multitude of other ways someone can help.

When a child is placed into foster care, it is often in the middle of the night and many kids have only the clothes on their backs or a small bag of belongings, according to Ellis. This often leaves kids stressed and scared, as they are placed in an unfamiliar home.

The Lavender Life Company donated 1,000 of its stuffed animals, some decorative bags and ribbons, beanbag filling and lavender scents to Kelly Polinsky, founder of Kelly’s Closet, to distribute to organizations who work with children in foster care. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

As a way to help those children acclimate to their new environment, Kelly Polinsky, founder and president of Kelly’s Closet, has teamed up with Thrive Worship in Vienna, the Lavender Life Company and the local PM Company to provide a lavender-scented stuffed animal to children being placed in the system.

The Lavender Life Company, who has worked with Polinsky in the past, donated 1,000 of their stuffed animals, some decorative bags and ribbons, beanbag filling and lavender scents to Polinsky to distribute within the area. The PM Company paid the shipping.

Of course, Polinsky could not house, stuff, package and deliver these on her own. On Saturday, a group of volunteers made their way to Thrive Worship in Vienna to prepare the stuffed animals, and phone calls were made to get them where they were needed.

According to Polinsky, 500 of the animals will go to Wood County DHHR Child Protective Services and the other 500 will go to the West Virginia Children’s Home Society to be distributed to 13 different centers that service the entire state.

“We previously received a smaller donation from Kelly (Polinsky) and didn’t realize what a hit they would be,” said Denise Hughes, programs manager with the Parkersburg location of the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia.

Groups of people volunteered their time Saturday to stuff the animals and help ship them out into the community. (Photo by Madeline Scarborough)

The stuffed animals are good for kids, because they provide security and the lavender smell is calming.

While there are plenty of other necessities needed, being able to give a child a stuffed animal can make a world of difference, according to Polinsky, who has been a foster parent in the past.

Polinsky’s nonprofit “Kelly’s Closet” is also located at the Thrive Worship Center. The closet is available for any foster or kinship family to bring their child or children in to shop at once every calendar month.

“I don’t care what state or county you are in, we are here and available,” said Polinsky.

There are gently used shoes, clothes of all kinds and sizes (including prom dresses) and brand new underwear, toothbrushes and other hygiene products.

“We always need more boys’ items for ages 10-18,” said Polinsky.

Those looking to make a donation should reach out over the phone to the Thrive Worship Center at 304-295-9383.

“We always appreciate the help,” said Ellis. “We are all just working together to make the lives of children better.”

Kelly’s Closet is holding a drive in August and September — August Undies and September Socks and Soles — to get more stock.

Madeline Scarborough can be reached at mscarborough@newsandsentinel.com