Kendall FD receives ‘Cuddle Buddies’ stuffed animals
Cuddle Buddies can provide comfort for people suffering emergency or traumatic event
Photos courtesy of Kendall Fire Department: The Rev Cuddle Buddies are shown inside a Kendall fire truck and response vehicle.
Press Release, Kendall Fire Department
KENDALL – In an effort to make emergency situations a little less frightening for community members, the Kendall Fire Department has partnered with Healthy Highway to receive a donation of ten Rev Cuddle Buddies comfort items.
The stuffed dinosaur companions will be carried on department apparatus and given to community members during emergencies, providing comfort and reassurance during what can often be one of the most stressful moments of their lives.
Assistant Chief James Fox said the donation is about much more than a stuffed animal, it’s about showing compassion when people need it most.
“As first responders, we often meet people on one of the worst days of their lives,” Fox said. “Whether it’s a house fire, motor vehicle accident, medical emergency, or another traumatic event, everything around them can seem overwhelming. Something as simple as handing them a Rev Cuddle Buddies gives them something to hold onto, something that helps them feel safe and reminds them that someone cares.”
Assistant Chief James Fox and Deputy Chief Mike Cole hold the donated Rev Cuddle Buddies, which are intended as comfort items for people stressed from an emergency.
Fox explained that he reached out to Healthy Highway after learning about the organization’s mission of supporting first responders and helping people cope with emergencies.
“When I saw what Healthy Highway was doing for communities across the country, I knew this was something that could make a real difference here in Kendall,” he said. “Our firefighters and EMTs are committed to taking care of people, and that includes caring for their emotional well-being. Children and adults with developmental disabilities process emergencies differently than adults, and having a comfort item can help reduce fear and anxiety while we focus on helping them and their families.”
The ten donated Rev Cuddle Buddies will be distributed by firefighters and EMS personnel whenever they encounter individuals involved in emergency incidents. While they are especially helpful for children, they are also beneficial for people with developmental disabilities or elderly patients experiencing dementia, who may find comfort in a familiar, calming object during stressful or confusing situations. The department hopes the program will bring comfort during difficult moments while helping build trust between first responders and the community.
“This is an incredible addition to the services we provide,” Fox added. “We’re grateful to Healthy Highway for recognizing the importance of supporting people during emergencies. Their generosity will have a lasting impact on families in our community, and we can’t thank them enough for partnering with us.”
The Kendall Fire Department says the donation reflects its ongoing commitment to serving the community beyond emergency response. While firefighters and EMS personnel are trained to save lives and protect property, they also recognize the importance of compassion and emotional support for all patients, regardless of age or ability.
Through this partnership with Healthy Highway, Kendall firefighters will now have another tool available, one that doesn’t fight fire or treat injuries, but instead helps bring comfort, courage, and a sense of calm when it’s needed most.
Programs like this are only possible because of the generosity of volunteers and donors who support Healthy Highway’s mission. Every donation helps place comfort items like Rev into the hands of first responders, allowing them to provide emotional support to those in crisis. If you would like to support this program and help bring comfort to people in communities like Kendall, please consider volunteering or making a donation through Healthy Highway.
The Kendall Fire Department extends its sincere appreciation to Healthy Highway, its volunteers, and its donors for making this partnership possible. Together, they are helping ensure that even during life’s most difficult moments, members of the community know they are not facing them alone.
