Nancy Jane Oesterling of Center Township demonstrates the type of “love toys,” or plush animals she hopes county residents will include in their donations to Hurricane Irma victims. She said they will comfort the smallest victims.

CENTER TWP — A well-known local woman wants county residents to remember the youngest hurricane victims as they donate supplies and money.

Nancy Jane Oesterling, who served as the county's jury commissioner for 32 years and spearheaded many local charitable projects over the decades, is no longer able to collect small stuffed animals for hurricane victims like she did in 2005 for Hurricane Katrina.

Oesterling saved 106 small fuzzy toys and other household goods that were to be discarded after her church's annual picnic in 2005.

Hindman Trucking, which sent a number of trucks bearing supplies to Katrina victims, put the bags of stuffed animals in the back of a truck, and the driver handed them out when they reached their destination.

“He said he would hand out the fuzzy toys and say 'Here honey, here's something for you to love and hug and hold onto,'” Oesterling recalled. “Those little ones don't understand what's happening, and they needs something to hug.”

When the driver returned to Butler, he told Oesterling that he promised the children to return with more stuffed animals, as he had run out.

Enter Oesterling, who collected hundreds of stuffed animals for Hindman Trucking to take to the children of Katrina.

While she is no longer able to coordinate such an effort, the octogenarian still worries about the tots in Florida dealing with property loss from Hurricane Irma.

“I'd love to go down, but I'm not able to,” Oesterling said. “I just hope people will donate a small, fuzzy toy to the children in Florida.”

She said those who do not know where to donate such a toy can bring their stuffed purchases to Hindman Trucking at 100 Hindman Lane, Butler.

Buddy Hindman is enthusiastic about Oesterling's idea and said he is accepting the small stuffed toys at his business off Route 68 in Connoquenessing Township.

“It's basically all gone for some people and (the stuffed toys) are probably helping,” said Hindman, who is the owner of Hindman Trucking. “Most kids would enjoy it, I think.”

He said he might take the toys to Bloomington, Texas, where he took a truckload of basic supplies and nonperishable food after Hurricane Harvey.

“Or I'll take them wherever (Oesterling) wants,” Hindman said.

He doesn't want any recognition for his philanthropy toward the hurricane victims.

“As far as I'm concerned, that's what God tells us to do, to take care of people who don't have anything or are hungry,” Hindman said. “I've been blessed enough that I can provide that help sometimes.”