As many of you know, my girlfriend Mary and I experienced a fetal loss in June 2024. In honor of our journey, we are dedicated to supporting the Weighted Angels charity through all contests associated with Ham Squad. If you’re able, please consider donating to this important cause.

About Weighted Angels:

Weighted Angels is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was formed in January 2019 by a group of bereaved mothers, looking to provide comfort to families experiencing pregnancy & infant loss. They became an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in January of 2019.

Kate Crump, who was grieving the loss of her son, invited every mama she knew who had experienced the same loss, to have dinner together. Kasie Ballard, a local Bereavement Doula, had made Heidi Anderson a weighted sloth, the first ever Laken Sloth. Kate requested a weighted animal for her son, Ellett, and that evening, Kasie brought one for Kate, the Ellett Deer.

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The Ellett Deer was passed around and each mama agreed that these weighted animals were something every loss family needed. From there, Kasie Ballard, Erin Miller, Kate Crump, Heidi Anderson, Taylor Louis, Lauren Fuller, and Sarah Berry formed Weighted Angels with the mission to get these animals into local hospitals so that no family had to leave with empty arms. 

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Now, 5 years later, Weighted Angels services 13 Virginia Peninsula hospitals, provides a limited number of individual requests each month, and helps to provide comfort to over 250 grieving families a year. It is ran by seven bereaved mothers- Kate, Heidi, Crystal, Kayleigh, Lauren & Rebecca - who donate and volunteer their time to help other families know they aren't alone.