Lincoln Elementary students rally to raise donations for ‘Ana’s Gifts’

Students from Lincoln Elementary pose in front of box full of stuffed animals for donation to "Ana's Gifts." — Students from Lincoln Elementary pose in front of box full of stuffed animals for donation to “Ana’s Gifts.”

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

When health problems kept Lori Hertel, Hays, from collecting hundreds of stuffed animals for a project called “Ana’s Gifts,” in which the animals are donated to first responders to give to children in traumatic situations, students from Lincoln Elementary stepped in to help.

A week before Christmas, Hertel was presented with “six overstuffed full-size trash bags of new stuffed animals” — a gift Hertel said left her speechless.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “It was wonderful to see all those stuffed animals and know the children cared so much about other children. … They wanted to give of themselves … so they could bring comfort to other children in traumatic situations.”

Lori’s daughter Ana Hertel died unexpectedly at the age of 17 in 2010 due to complications from a rare genetic disease called multiple pterygium syndrome.

Ana, in and out of hospitals her entire life, found comfort in the stuffed animals she was given and started the project before her death.

“I made a promise to Ana to keep the project alive,” Lori Hertel said.

Ana Hertel, who died at age 17, started "Ana's Gifts" as to bring comfort to kids in traumatic situations. — Ana Hertel, who died at age 17, started “Ana’s Gifts” as to bring comfort to kids in traumatic situations.

Hertel credits her friend and Lincoln Elementary school counselor Eva Junk for telling the children about Ana’s Gifts and is “so thankful” the kids were quick to help.

“It was spectacular to see how much (the children) raised in just a two-week period of time,” Hertel said.

For more information or to donate to Ana’s Gifts, contact Hertel at 785-625-4010.