Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Thomas
Hi Emily, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Audrey’s Comfort Totes Inc was established in March 2022 by Emily and Audrey Thomas. After Audrey’s very uncomfortable experience in the ER for a suicide attempt they decided they wanted to help those in mental health crises feel comfort. They started delivering tote bags in their hometown in Indiana but have expanded to Minnesota, Utah, Oregon, and Texas. We host Comfort Tote Bag Workshops with groups in the community to put together the tote bags and to share a message about the importance of talking about mental health, educating ourselves about mental health, and comforting those who struggle with mental health. Inside each tote are items that provide comfort and distraction. In Minnesota we deliver tote bags to Children’s Minnesota Emergency Departments in Minneapolis and St Paul and to North Memorial Health Hospital. Our goal each year is simple: to give out more tote bags than the year before. In our first year of existence we delivered 66 bags. In our second year we delivered 277 bags and we are on track this year to surpass that amount.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We have found that most hospitals or facilities that we deliver to are more than happy to receive the tote bags . Almost every place we have contacted has loved the idea of our comfort tote bags and been very thankful. The hardest part of running our nonprofit is the fundraising. We are a new and small nonprofit so we aren’t eligible for grants. We rely solely on individual donations. We hold one fundraiser a year so as not to overwhelm our donors.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
While my children were at home I was a stay at home mom. I have had part time jobs on and off while they were in school but not a career. Instead I chose to spend my time volunteering in their schools and volunteering in my church congregation. Since becoming an empty nester I have focused all of my time on growing this nonprofit and completing projects around my home. I am most proud of where my two daughters are today. They are productive members of their communities and working on completing their education. I hope to continue to help those who need comfort and grow this nonprofit.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People can support us in several different ways. Donations are always appreciated. We would also love to partner with anyone who would like to hold a workshop in their community and we are always happy to find new facilities to donate to. We are always happy to hear suggestions and ideas that are sent to our email or website.
Pricing:
- It costs about $20 per tote bag.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://audreyscomforttotes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actinc2022/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089452943793
