A Baldwin County mother and her four children have started delivering handmade care packages, known as “buddy bags,” to youngsters whose families were hit hardest by Hurricane Sally, offering a small measure of comfort during a difficult recovery.
Mary Beth Rouse and her children began the effort this week, visiting the Marlow community first, where the family handed out nearly four dozen bags in under an hour. Each bag is put together by the siblings and their parents and given directly to families with children living in some of the areas that saw the worst damage from the storm.
“All kids in our community went through something really traumatic and they all need a little love right now,” Rouse said of the effort.
Hurricane Sally made landfall along the Gulf Coast in September, bringing torrential rain, flooding and widespread wind damage across Baldwin County. Many families are still working through cleanup and repairs, and children in particular have had their routines upended by school closures, property damage and the stress of watching their parents navigate storm recovery.
The Rouse family says the buddy bags are meant to give kids a bright spot amid that disruption. The family plans to keep the deliveries going in the days ahead, with a stop planned in Spanish Fort and additional visits scheduled for Silverhill, along with a return trip to Marlow to reach families they were not able to see on the first pass.
Community members interested in supporting the effort or learning where the next round of buddy bags will be distributed are encouraged to watch for updates as the family continues making its way through some of Baldwin County’s hardest-hit neighborhoods.