Utah children in need of a 'companion' to receive 'special doll-iveries' from nonprofit
by Cassidy Wixom ksl · KSL.comKEY TAKEAWAYS
- Special Dollivery, a Utah nonprofit, gifts restored dolls to children in need.
- The organization aims to provide companionship and mental health benefits through doll play.
- Special Dollivery will be handing out around 125 dolls to children across the state in the next few weeks.
SALT LAKE CITY — An expanding nonprofit organization is hoping to uplift children in Utah, one doll at a time.
Layton resident Susan Robison started Special Dollivery in 2012, where she would gift American Girl dolls to children in vulnerable home environments.
"Dolls are a powerful tool in the hands of a child. Through doll play, children can imagine their biggest dreams and best possible futures. I believe that if a child can dream something, they can do it," Robison said when the city recognized her.
She gifted more than 3,000 dolls before handing over the reins to Gabrielle Mast and Christine Young. Over Christmas, the two delivered around 200 dolls to schools across the Salt Lake Valley and in Utah County.
"We have taken it, and we just think it's such an amazing project, and we want to grow it since she spent so much time on it," Mast said. "It's just incredible how much it's grown."
Mast first began restoring American Girl dolls last year after seeing internet videos about the process. She posted on Facebook about wanting to donate her skills to help children in need, and Robison connected with her about Special Dollivery.
Ever since, Mast has been carefully taking the dolls apart, cleaning and restoring them so they are in almost perfect condition and ready for new homes.
Each doll comes with a full kit of handmade clothing, shoes, a sleeping bag, a brush, a book, accessories and a duffle bag. The handmade items are donated by members of the sewing and quilting community whom Robison connected with.
"It's totally a 'takes a village' kind of thing, for sure," Mast said. "I think we can all agree that there is a need, and we have so many donations coming in that we want to expand it to as many kids as we can that need them."
Special Dollivery connects with Title 1 elementary schools and youth organizations to ensure kids who are most in need receive a doll. This week, the organization will be visiting Mountain View Elementary in Salt Lake City and Centennial Elementary in Orem.
Over the next few weeks, Special Dollivery will be giving out around 125 dolls from the Springville Children's Library to a Native American summer school program in Alpine School District and schools in Cedar City.
"We believe that a doll can provide a companion for children in vulnerable situations while also providing a mental health benefit for any child in any circumstance," Mast said.
Having prior experience with foster youth and children in vulnerable situations, Mast tries to personalize the dolls as much as she can so the kids receiving them don't feel like they are just a case to be dealt with or another number in the system.
"When we have the opportunity, I love to get information about the kids, such as hair color, favorite things. I like to curate the dolls and the bags and everything to make them feel seen. That's my goal," she said.
As someone who lives in Park City, Mast is trying to bridge the gap between wealthy kids and those who don't have as much. She hopes people will consider donating any unused dolls to help those in need.
"We want to be that name people think of when they have an American Girl doll, or their daughters grow out of them, and instead of donating it to the Goodwill and having it end up in the hands of a reseller, we can directly take it and make sure it goes to the right place," she said.
With just Mast and Young, Special Dollivery is "just an absolute labor of love right now." They hope to expand the organization so they can continue uplifting children's lives.
Mast said it has been "completely life-changing" volunteering her time for the organization. She has reconnected with her inner child while working on the dolls and loves seeing the children's faces light up when they receive a doll.
"To give a kid something that even I, as an adult, see as a companion has changed my life. I just feel so strongly about the mental health benefits. Some kids don't have friends, or they might have a harder time making friends. There's just a myriad of reasons as to why they can be beneficial," Mast said.
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Cassidy Wixom
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Cassidy Wixom is an award-winning reporter for KSL. She covers Utah County communities, arts and entertainment, and breaking news. Cassidy graduated from BYU before joining KSL in 2022.