So. Florida Mother Coloring Away Pain With Children's Books
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - There are so many things that can help a community struck by a disaster like the tornadoes that tore through Alabama a couple of weeks ago.
One of those things -- coloring books and crayons.
And a South Florida mother needs your help to provide them.
Kimberly Pressley-Herrick knows coloring books. She's authored dozens of them and her passion has a purpose.
Each book has a theme that can help a child overcome a tragedy -- like the devastation from a tornado. Each story is told through the eyes of an animal with poignant questions that are designed to help a child open up.
"It's a way for parents to help their children sit down and maybe get through the rough patch of sadness or depression or anger," Pressley-Herrick said.
The books are bound for Birmingham -- hundreds of books in all. Kimberly's coloring books made it to Haiti after the earthquake and to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. She her books have been translated into Spanish, French and will soon be translated into Japanese so they can be sent to the victims of Japan's earthquake.
She hopes the books are a way for kids to express themselves when words can't describe their pain.
She drew on the experiences of one of her son's following her divorce to create the books.
"His anger, his sadness, his depression all came out with I want to kill myself which is sobering to hear from anyone, let alone an 8 year old," Pressley-Herrick said.
A therapist told Kimberly to have her children draw -- that's how the Foundation for Coloring Away Pain was born.
She's gotten thank you drawings and letters from children across the world. She believes these simple stories might unlock the suffering of some needy kids.
"If we reach one child, and help one child through their darkest hour then it's all worth it," she said.
The foundation needs about $1,000 dollars to print these coloring books and ship them to Alabama.
CLICK HERE if you'd like to help.
