There is nothing like hugging a cuddly stuffed animal

For his bar mitzvah project, William McNarney collected stuffed animals to give to children at Orlando Day Nursery in Parramore, an early childhood center where many families are experiencing trauma and economic hardship.

"They could lose a family member to the virus. A parent could lose work. They could lose the few things that they have," said William, 13, an eighth-grader at Howard Middle School. "This gives them something to hold onto."

William, who lives with his parents and sister in College Park, gathered 144 stuffed animals through online donations and boxes set out at school, Congrega...