In 2018, Amy Antone’s 2-year-old son Lucas fell and hurt his eye on his bike's brake handle. He was rushed to the hospital. All Amy could do is watch as the doctors and nurses prepped Lucas for surgery to repair his eye. The only thing Lucas had to hold onto was the towel he used to hold against his injured eye. After this experience, Amy started the 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Cuddles of Hope(COH).

COH’s mission is to ensure that any child has a stuffed friend to cuddle through the difficult or frightening times (i.e. hospitals and shelters). Children keep their new stuffed animal as a symbol of their courage and strength. Each stuffed animal is presented to threshold as a gift with a coloring book and crayons inside the gift bag with destuffed animal. Cuddles of Hope also donates Hope Bags that include a backpack, stuffed animal, blanket, coloring book, crayons, toiletries, and poem.