When Chelsey Brown read about an appeal for aid for the Iowa flood victims in her church bulletin at the First United Methodist Church in Centerville, she knew she wanted to help. She thought about the children who had lost everything in the devastated area.

Remembering the comfort that her teddy bear gave her as a child, she said she would have been lost if she had lost him. "My teddy bear was my best friend," she related. She knew that replacing these stuffed friends wouldn't be a priority for parents who would be worried about replacing shelter and providing the basic needs for living for their families. She thought she could collect stuffed animals to send to the area.

"It wouldn't replace the loss of childhood treasures but maybe it would help," Brown said. "I hope they give joy to the children."

She text messaged friends who gave her their stuffed creatures and she went to Angels Hands and Second Time Around for donations to build the relief collection.

She also searched for animals at local garage sales and got donations from church members.

First United Methodist Church secretary, Debbie Miller, contacted relief agencies who are accepting the gigantic boxes to be sent to the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program in Hiawatha, Iowa. Their mission is to promote economic and emotional strength to people in the community. There they will be distributed to the children who are victims of the floods.

If anyone would like to add to the collection they can contact the church office at 856-3213.