Story by Whitney Carter. Photos provided by Cozy Crates.
Lily Falconer is not your average, North Texas high school senior. The 17-year-old already has her own organization to help children in some of the most challenging times of their lives.
“The idea for Cozy Crates started after going through Hurricane Maria in 2017,” Lily says. “I lived on the island of St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands and experienced a category five hurricane and the aftermath.”
Lily founded the organization in early 2022, after she moved to Texas. Lily says her first-hand experience of knowing what someone is going through after having their lives upended by a natural disaster drives her work.
Cozy Crates’ purpose is to provide child victims of natural disasters with comfort items to give kids a newfound sense of ownership and hope, along with an easier transition to their new lives.
“It is important to me to help children go through the recovery that I did. I have since learned about mental health and promoting resiliency in children. Each Cozy Crate is filled with items specifically picked to promote healing through comfort, community, recreation, and a sense of ownership,” Lily says.
For Lily, it’s not just about helping the kids through a tough time; she has also seen her work done the same for their parents.
“They are thankful to see their children happy and cared for after a traumatic event,” Lily says.
Last year, her work took her to Florida after Hurricane Ian.
“We delivered 100 Cozy Crates boxes to kids in shelters in Ft. Myers, Florida. They were so excited to receive them and started playing immediately. It felt like Christmas morning with the smiles and laughter,” Lily says.
According to Lily, they have distributed 100 boxes in Florida, and they have another 150 boxes ready to be delivered this hurricane season wherever aid is necessary.
If you would like to get involved with Cozy Crates, you can do so on their website. They always accept monetary donations, and items like blankets, back packs and stuffed animals.
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