🎒💙 Big News: Our First School Has Joined the Mission!

Lake Shore students will take on a challenge to collect 100 stuffed animals this April!

We’re beyond excited to announce that Lake Shore Elementary is the very first school to officially join Austen’s Huggable Heroes! These amazing Seagulls are stepping up to be part of something bigger than themselves: helping kids in foster care, shelters, and vulnerable situations feel seen, safe, and loved… one stuffed animal at a time.

Challenge Accepted!

This April, Lake Shore students and their families are on a mission to collect 100 stuffed animals for children in need.

With the help of their teachers and school staff, students will be able to:

✔️ Bring in new or gently-loved stuffed animals

✔️ Write “Hug Notes” with encouraging messages

✔️ Learn about kindness, giving back, and being a hero in their community

We’re turning compassion into action—and this is just the beginning. 👏

📍 April Drop-Off (Lake Shore)

Location: Lake Shore Elementary

Address: 9300 NW 21st Ave, Vancouver, WA 98665

Dates: April 1–30

Who Can Donate: Lake Shore students and their families only

Goal: 🧸 100 stuffed animals!

Donations can be dropped off in the front office all month long. Every stuffy brings us one step closer to wrapping a child in comfort and connection.

💙 Why This Matters

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and while we can't fix everything overnight, we can wrap the world’s tiniest arms around kids who feel alone. Whether it’s a teddy bear, a dinosaur, or a sparkly unicorn—when it’s given with love, it becomes something so much bigger.

Lake Shore is leading the way. One student. One note. One stuffed animal at a time.

📣 Coming Up!

Keep an eye out for:

🧡 A partnership with Thrive2Survive

🎉 Shoutouts for students + community heroes

💙Hazel Dell Parade news

📦 And more drop box locations popping up soon!

Want to Get Your School Involved?

We’re just getting started, and we’d love to bring Austen’s Huggable Heroes to more classrooms, hallways, and school assemblies! Reach out to us if your school wants to:

📚 Host a drop box

✍️ Write hug notes

🧒 Empower students to give back

Let’s raise a generation of givers—together. 💫