Being on Amazon doing a little bit of browsing, and potentially a little bit of buying, is not an unusual thing in the Kerr household. Seeing the browsing turn into a community drive to benefit sick children is a bit unusual.

 

Yet, that is what happened recently as Andrea Kerr and her 13-year-old daughter Audrey were on the site when they noticed a “Wish List” of items on Amazon for WVU Medicine Children’s. A short while later, Audrey Kerr was doing what she seems to do best – doing charitable deeds.

 

“That’s where we saw it and they had high priority items listed. One of the items listed as high priority was stuffed animals,” said Andrea.

 

That high priority then became Audrey’s priority. She opted to do it for no other reason than she saw it and wanted to assist.

 

“I came across the WVU (Medicine) Children’s (Hospital) Amazon Wish List and asked my mom if there was something we could do to help,” said Audrey. “We contacted WVU, and they told us they needed stuffed animals. I thought that was a great idea for a fundraiser.”

 

And here we are.

 

Audrey’s phone call confirmed the wish list and the soon-to-be-8^th grade student at Bridgeport Middle School decided it was time to chip in. So far, with the fundraiser just in its infancy stages it appears he the community stuffed animal drive will be able to produce a minimum of 50 stuffed animals.

 

I am certain the folks here in Bridgeport, Clarksburg, Shinnston, Harrison County, and beyond can make that number much higher. To do so is easy, and you have until July 25 to assist.

 

So, she made up some flyers and put some boxes out at different place and accepting stuffed animal donations through July 25 and we also started a fundraiser on Facebook for cash donations in which she will purchase stuffed animals.

 

If you have a stuffed animal you would like to donate, you can find boxes at City Hall, one at the Benedum Civic Center, one at the Citynet Center at The Bridge, and one at the Bridgeport Public Library. There is only one stipulation, which makes sense due to the animals going to sick children – the stuffed animals have to be new.

 

For those that would rather donate money and allow Audrey to use 100 percent of the funds raised to purchase stuffed animals, you can do so online. A Facebook fundraiser is in place, and you can contribute by clicking HERE.

 

So far, on that page, more than $350 has been raised. Kerr said other donations have been received.

 

That is certainly good news. The better news? This is not Audrey Kerr’s first rodeo.

 

Back in 2019, Audrey did a fundraiser for Bridgeport’s Challenger League. That turned out be successful, and made mom Andrea and dad Kris extremely proud, as is the latest venture.

 

“Audrey is a very kind-hearted girl. It doesn’t really surprise me that she wanted to help because she’s done fundraisers in the past. What I’ve noticed when she has an idea to help is that it always gravitates toward helping kids,” said mom. “I hope she keeps doing them.”

 

It sounds like she will be doing just that.

 

“Definitely,” said Audrey when asked if she was looking to do more in the future and for children. “I would like to make this a yearly fundraiser. While we were looking at the Amazon wish list, we noticed they also need things like Band-Aids, and other toys. So maybe next year I will look into that. Still fundraise for WVU Children’s but switch it up to fit their needs.”

 

By the end of the month Audrey and her family plan to bring the donations to WVU Medicine Children’s – no later than July 31. That means a few more smiles than might be possible otherwise this summer for children who would rather be outside playing.

 

This 13-year-old is doing her part to facilitate those smiles. Do yours. Donate.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Audrey, right, with her younger sister and trusted sidekick Kate, posing with some of the stuffed animals purchased so far. Audrey and Kate are shown with mom Andrea and dad Chris in bottom photo. All photos courtesy of the Kerr family.