WATCH: How these furry friends can help children

• Fundraising store by Beacon’s Furry FUNdation Society
• Kids can stuff their own plushies
• Over half the stuffed animals are made with recycled water bottles

Putting a smile on kids’ faces and giving them a best friend is what one local toy store strives for.

Build a Furry Friend Toy Lodge had its grand opening in West Kelowna on Saturday.

The store is from the non-profit, Beacon’s Furry FUNdation Society (BFFS), which provides families and children in need by empowering them to achieve their full potential and reduce worries.

“A best friend is a plush growing up, especially for children,” Cori Inman, president of the society and team leader of the storefront told Kelowna10.

“When there’s nobody to talk to, they’re upset, they’re crying, they’ll hold onto their best friend and curl up in their bed… we wanted to be able to provide them with that extra bit of love.”

Children are able to help stuff their new furry friend and then put a wish inside, which creates a bond between the two of them.

“We give them an adoption certificate and they promise to take care of their best friend… to take them on an adventure, [and] their best friend promises to listen to them if they’re having a hard time,” she explained. “We have worry pads kids can take home and they can actually write their worries on it.”

Inman said the store also wanted to be conscious of the environment and half of the stuffed animals in the store are made of recycled plastic water bottles.

“Each furry animal uses approximately nine and a half water bottles,” she said. “There’s lots of things the store can offer, but it’s all under the umbrella to help provide emotional support to children through building a new best friend they can confide in.”

All the proceeds from the store go into its operation and back into the non-profit, helping them fund their programs related to music and school.

The store also employs young people aged 12 to 16, giving them hands-on work experience.

“A condition on their employment is they have to put in volunteer hours, so they always volunteer at our community events,” Inman said. “That allows them to see how giving back to the community also helps.”

BFFS will be hosting various fundraising events this summer such as the Okanagan Mascot Games in July.