Local nonprofit distributes care packages to kids in need amid coronavirus

For more than seven years, C.J. Matthews has been at the helm of the local nonprofit Blankies 4 My Buddies, which collects and distributes to kids who have been displaced or are sick.

And now, amid the coronavirus outbreak, C.J., who is just 12 years old, is finding additional ways to help kids in need.

Last week, C.J., along with his mom and younger brother, assembled and delivered care packages for displaced kids in Fulton County. The kits included things like homemade masks, activities, hand sanitizer and healthy snacks.

The family dropped off the kits at Carrie-Steele-Pitts Home, which provides shelter for at-risk youth.

“When we started Blankies 4 My Buddies in 2013, the purpose was to protect our son's mental health. After the pregnancy loss of our daughter when C.J. was only 5, he had trouble coping,” C.J.’s mom, Kristen Matthews, told 11Alive. “As his parents, we are very proud of him because there are so many distractions, but he remains focused on being a positive force in our local communities and in the world.”

The nonprofit is also raising money through a GoFundMe campaign to be able to continue distributing the care kits to kids in Atlanta.

“C.J. has committed to supporting homeless children in Atlanta during this time and is raising funds to provide what he calls ‘Comfort Bags’ to help homeless children in Atlanta to cope with social distancing,” the GoFundMe reads in part.