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DOWAGIAC — A local nonprofit’s recent donation to Ascension Borgess-Lee Hospital aims to put smiles on the faces of kids and families who are going through difficult experiences.

The hospital recently received a donation of 335 stuffed animals and 130 blankets from The Eva Martin Project for pediatric patients to be used in the emergency rooms at Borgess-Lee Hospital, Borgess Pipp, and Borgess Allegan. There will also be a supply for the pediatric practice at Borgess Allegan.

The Eva Martin Project is a Baroda-based non-profit organization founded by Southwestern Michigan College grads Rick and Becky Martin in honor of their daughter Eva Martin, who passed away in June 2023. The family created The Eva Martin Project in her memory with the purpose of bringing comfort to children and families who find themselves in an emergency situation. They collect new stuffed animals and blankets to be donated to local emergency rooms and pediatric care units. 

“When Eva had her accident, taking her to the hospital, we didn’t think about grabbing her blankie or stuffed animal or anything like that,” Rick said. “When we were able to finally see her up in Kalamazoo and to see her adorned with blankets and stuffies, it was very comforting and knowing that someone took the time and care to do something like that meant a lot. With her not being here anymore, those stuffies just take on a whole new meaning. Anything we can do to bring that comfort to someone else going through unimaginable scenarios or times in their lives is really what we hope to do.”

“It’s just been something to keep us going,” Becky said. “We didn’t really know what we wanted to do but I think the day we got home, we knew we wanted to do something. (Rick’s) brother had started a GoFundMe and we were trying to think what’s the best way we can help our community and whether or not it’d be exactly people like us but this project came to mind and then it just took off from there.”

For more information, visit theevamartinproject.org.