Hendersonville 5-year-old collects toys for children impacted by Helene

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. ( WKRN ) — Volunteers can come in all shapes and sizes.

Five-year-old Henley Casteline wanted to help give back to other kids who might have lost everything after Helene devastated parts of East Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia.

“Henley immediately said, ‘Mom, what about all of their toys and their stuffed animals, their favorite stuffies, they’re going to be so sad?'” said her mom, Jennifer Casteline.

Casteline said this is when Henley jumped into action and grabbed around 30 of her own stuffed animals to give to children impacted by the storm.

It didn’t take long for Henley’s kindness to spread all across Hendersonville, inspiring others to get involved as well.

“There’s a group here in Hendersonville called ‘Moms of Hendersonville’ and those women just were saints,” said Casteline. “They it blew up within just a couple hours. I had people dropping off bags and bags of them, and it I didn’t expect it to be as big as it was, but these women are wonderful.”

From starting with around 30 stuffed animals, they have now collected hundreds. Casteline has worked with local churches and businesses to organize drop off locations for others to participate.

“We are going to continue this as long as people are willing to to donate, and people have actually monetarily given to and so Henley was able to go herself and purchase,” said Casteline. We have probably bought hundreds of the little stuffies and dogs and stuff out of all the local stores in Hendersonville herself.”

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Casteline said her daughters kindness has made her so proud, knowing the challenges she’s had to overcome herself.

“It makes me super proud,” said Casteline. “Henley was diagnosed with autism a couple years ago. And so you know, with children with disabilities, you always hope for the stars for them. And you know she was not able to really communicate a couple years ago. And so the fact that this little, glittery five year old is able to take the initiative on her you know, on her own. It’s joyful to see. I’m so excited that she is wanting to do this on her own.”

Casteline said the Mobley Veterinary Clinic in East Nashville has offered to serve as drop-off point for others to donate stuffed animals, before donations are taken to Long Hollow Church in Hendersonville.

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