The Lost Stuffy Project: Moms Help Kids Reunite with Stuffies Lost in LA Fires
In January of 2025, wildfires attacked the Greater Los Angeles area causing devastating impacts for many families. The fires burned more than 40,000 acres, destroying more than 12,300 structures, which includes the homes and possessions of many families.
After learning of the tragic Los Angeles fires, New Jersey mom of two Randi Jaffe asked herself what she would grab if she were in the situation where she had to evacuate. She instantly thought of her child’s three-inch cheetah, the one she always said could never be replaced because no one knew where it came from. Randi shared her thoughts, saying, “Not only have these kids lost everything and any sense of normalcy, they don’t even have a comfort item to hold onto.”
Randi, alongside her sister-in-law Jenny Jaffe, decided to take action, creating The Lost Stuffy Project to reunite children with their comfort items.
Psst… Check Out How to Help Los Angeles Wildfire Victims Right Now
Pairing Kids with Stuffies, One Post at a Time
The Lost Stuffy Project is a project dedicated to reuniting children with their stuffed animals, blankets and comfort items. Through their Instagram, @loststuffyproject, Randi and Jenny work with their followers to reunite children with these sentimental items lost in the LA fires.
The way it works is simple: People submit photos of the stuffed animal, blanket, or toy that’s gone missing to their Instagram. From there, the two sisters-in-law create a “wanted” post, asking their followers to help track down the lost item. The response has been amazing—people from all over the country are getting involved, donating to the cause, sleuthing online to find toys, or simply reposting to spread the word.
Randi Jaffe shared one of the amazing stories that have emerged from this business with New York Family of a young woman in college who reached out on behalf of her 7-year-old sister after their family home was burned down. Her little sister’s pink bunny was about 20 years old and came from the GAP, making it very difficult to track down.
The Lost Stuffy Project went full force searching for this bunny, posting and even contacting the GAP to search their archives. People were scouring from all over to locate the missing bunny. The search eventually reached Reddit, a popular open forum social network, where it eventually reached a woman who owned the exact pink bunny from the GAP.
Although this was this woman’s personal comfort animal her entire life, even stating that this bunny had been with her through the hardest moments of her life, she was more than happy to give it to a child who had lost it. This is the kindness and generosity The Lost Stuffy Project is all about.
Helping Schools Restore Comfort Items
The founders of The Lost Stuffy Project visited Woodbury Village Preschool where every toy, book and stuffed animal had tragically been destroyed in the fires. Through their project, they are using their platform to replace these comfort items in schools that students rely on. Randi told us, “Getting these kids back to school is so important, but it is also getting them back into an emotionally safe and comfortable place.”
Mother of two, Randi Jaffe, works as a Child Life Specialist and is passionate about raising awareness of the vital role these professionals play. She often refers to them as the unsung heroes of healthcare. Randi explained, “We support pediatric patients and kids who have or are experiencing traumatic events.”
Randi also works directly with children herself in the hospital and sees firsthand how much stuffed animals serve as a comfort to children and help ease their anxieties. She often works in the OR where she brings the children into the operating room. While the parents are not allowed back in the OR, stuffed animals and comfort items are!
Once the child falls asleep, Randi carefully takes the comfort item, holding it like it’s pure gold, so she can return it to the parents. She shared how much relief these comfort items bring, not just to the children, but also to the parents waiting in the waiting room, as she explains the rest of the procedure.
The Lost Stuffy Project even made it to the big stage! This year during the 2025 Grammy Awards, local businesses and relief programs were highlighted during commercial breaks in support of those affected by the LA fires. The Lost Stuffy Project was showcased in the commercial as the project was explained as, “replacing the irreplaceable”. The Jonas Brothers were featured in the commercial stating, “As dads, we love what the Lost Stuffy Project is doing, so we are donating our personal stuffy collection.” This commercial brought tons of several followers to the project and allowed more people to get involved.
These two moms are truly an inspiration, creating a project that has helped so many children reunite with their beloved toys, stuffed animals, and blankets. We’re grateful to The Lost Stuffy Project for sharing their incredible story with us.
You can help The Lost Stuffy Project by following them on Instagram, @loststuffyproject, and then help share posts looking for stuffies of all kinds. Check out their bio to donate money that aids in the purchasing and restoring of stuffies as well as the Woodbury Village Preschool wishlist.
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