Growing up in St. Cloud, Florida, 11-year-old Kenzie and 9-year-old Kayleigh became well-acquainted with hurricane season.
And when Hurricane Helene hit Florida in late September and continued up the coast — hitting Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia, and more in its path — the sisters jumped at the chance to help children affected by the disaster.
Especially those still reeling from the long-term effects of the destruction months later, in Western North Carolina.
“Hurricane Helene hit, and we usually try to volunteer because we're used to hurricanes where we live,” the girls’ mother, Angela Tilsher, told CBS Mornings’ David Begnaud.
“We couldn't take a chainsaw up there, so we were like, ‘How do we affect a girl to help them quickly?’ And that's through play.”
That’s when Kenzie, Kayleigh, and their mother came up with the “Anna the Appalachian” doll initiative and approached the American Girl doll company in collaboration.
“Her story is that she understands what the girls went through,” Angela said. “And that she’s going to be her new friend, to help her [know] that she’s brave, she’s strong, and she’s going to make it through this.”
CBS Mornings’ Begnaud joined the Tilsher family in Burnsville, North Carolina, on their way to deliver more dolls.
The sisters explained that Anna the Appalachian Doll is a character with her own story. But she’s also a template for over 100 custom-made dolls that Kenize and Kayleigh have helped make.
“I love her so much, and she looks just like me,” 9-year-old Addie Foxx told the sisters as she cradled her doll.
Addie was diagnosed with alopecia just before Hurricane Helene hit, and Kenzie and Kayleigh made sure to customize her doll in her likeness.
“I’m very happy and excited that we get to help out,” Kenzie told Begnaud.
“What does that excitement mean to you?” Begnaud asked the girls. “Do you want to do more of it?”
“Yes, lots more,” Kenzie replied.
“A lot more!” Kayleigh agreed, nodding.
According to Buncombe County, more than 100,000 households in Western North Carolina were severely impacted or destroyed by Hurricane Helene.
6 months later, in Asheville alone, it’s estimated that 1,548 people (including individuals and families) are still experiencing homelessness after being displaced by Helene — and many are living in hotels paid for by FEMA under its Transitional Sheltering Assistance program.
And for the families that have secured housing, many have lost beloved personal items and possessions in the disaster. For some kids, that means rebuilding treasured toy collections from scratch.
“Because of these dolls, we were able to still give my daughter something special on Christmas that we probably wouldn't have been able to do otherwise,” Addie’s mother Randi Price told CBS News, wiping tears away from her eyes.
“[Getting] a doll that represents something that she's going through is an immensely [indescribable] joy to so many little girls.”
Header images via Angela Tilsher / Facebook
