Killeen Family Gives Back to Community After Devastating Loss
Back in May, one-year-old Caleb Travis Godwin Icmat of Killeen was found unresponsive in a backyard pool. While his family is still grieving, they are choosing to remember Caleb and give his short life purpose by donating to others in need. In lieu of donations for funeral expenses, they decided to give back.
According to KWTX, Caleb took his blanket with him everywhere. His "softy" was his favorite thing.
"You give him his softy, and he’d just curl up wherever he was at and snuggle his face in it,” says Caleb’s grandmother, Tiffany Icmat. "He was a blanket kind of kid."
The family created the Cuddle Buddy project, and are collecting donations of new and used blankets to help others while they continue to heal from the loss of Caleb.
Blanket collection baskets have been placed all across Killeen, and will go straight back to the community. Places such as Department of Family Services, Hope Pregnancy Centers, McLane Children's Hospital, and Killeen Police will be the recipients of these new and gently used donated blankets.
“It just really gives us something to focus on in a positive way. We lost him very early, so this is just our way to do something in his honor where we can remember him every day,” says Icmat.
For a list of donation locations, visit The Cuddle Buddy Project Facebook page. While there, you can also click the Donate button to make a monetary donation. Those funds will be used to purchase blankets for the cause.