Inspired by a global issue and backed with backgrounds in nutrition, cuddle+kind founders Jen and Derek Woodgate made it their mission to give back.
That’s why, for every doll purchased from cuddle+kind, the company gives 10 meals to one of their respected giving partners in an effort to end childhood hunger across the world. Since 2015, cuddle+kind has provided over 19 million children with meals while simultaneously producing ethically, beautiful, and hand-made dolls for their customers.
Jen and Derek’s philosophy to raising healthy children is simple; raise them with love, care, and a nutritious diet. So, when Jen and Derek watched a documentary on the devastating effects of childhood hunger, they realized this was their call to action.
They wanted to create a stream of giving back that was sustainable, without having to rely on donations. But producing dolls for children was only the first step in creating a system for inspiring the next generation of children.
“Helping children reach their potential resonates with us as parents. It motivated us to start a social business that gives meals to children in need and it inspires us every day,” reads cuddle+kind’s website. To them, sustainability comes full circle by receiving and giving back to the world.
As such, their commitment to fair trade practices lies at the forefront of their organization; all dolls are ethically produced by artisans in Peru and Nepal who are all paid a sustainable and fair-trade income. “For us, fair trade is a commitment to a different way of doing business. It’s about putting the principles of fairness and decency before profits,” note the founders.
For the Woodgate’s, quality is as important as the cause they are proudly backing. The dolls are hand-knit with high-quality cotton by their artisan team members and each of the nine dolls sold on their website dons a name, birthdate, and ‘personality’ along with an inspiring quote. “Our dream for cuddle+kind is to make a tangible, positive impact on childhood hunger,” Jen and Derek say on their website.
Building a business from scratch has never proven easy, and yet, the Woodgate’s remain committed to upholding their 10 meals-a-purchase promise. Establishing partnerships with respected humanitarian agencies such as The Breakfast Club of Canada, the Children’s Hunger Fund, and World Food Program USA School Meals Program, they have worked to provide children with food packs, school gardens, and breakfast meals.
Although many of their programs are centralized in Canada, USA, Peru, and Haiti, cuddle+kind has provided meals to children across the world. In 2018, Jen and Derek flew to Kenya to meet the children part of their meal program, where their dolls provide school meals to over 6,750 children in nine schools. They left the country inspired and humbled. “Many of the students we met walk an hour each way to school and are highly committed to getting an education and improving their lives … we saw, first-hand, the very real and meaningful impact our supporters’ purchases are making.”
With 3.1 million deaths in children under five caused by poor nutrition every year, childhood hunger is a real issue that is frequently forgotten by many people. Healthy and nutritious meals have been proven to help children perform better in school, fight diseases, and build better cognitive function. Brands like cuddle+kind are taking action in a remarkable and inspiring fashion, by teaching us the most valuable lesson of all; to give back.
To learn more, visit cuddle+kind’s website.
All images in this article are courtesy of cuddle+kind.
