Two brothers are stitching together a simple solution to a heavy problem: helping children process anxiety, trauma and illness one stuffed monster at a time. The plush toys, each one handmade, are designed to give kids a comforting outlet for fears they might not know how to put into words.
As reported by KPTV, the brothers' project has grown out of a bedroom craft project into a full-fledged community initiative. The idea traces back more than a decade, when founder Ben LaMont created his first stuffed Worry Monster, nicknamed Mr. Fuzzy, at age 5 to help him overcome recurring nightmares, according to historical background reported by Connections Academy. Ben's mother, Michelle, sewed the very first monster from a drawing he made, and the project eventually expanded to include his younger brother Wyatt, per the same account.
What began as one family's bedtime fix has since become a statewide effort known as the Worry Monster Kindness Project, also operated under the name Monster Adoption Agency. Ben reached his 1,000th monster in June.
From 4-H Sewing Ribbons to a Statewide Mission
Ben picked up sewing as a hobby around age 9 and grew more enthusiastic about it after joining Road Hogs 4-H, according to Oregon State University Extension, which also reports he won a purple ribbon. The Beaverton Valley Times reported that Wyatt joined as the project's chief designer. The brothers settled into complementary roles: Wyatt draws the original monster concepts, while Ben and their mother handle the sewing and assembly, the paper reported.
The monsters have found their way into the hands of children through several Oregon nonprofits built around child welfare and trauma care. The LaMont family donates the plush monsters directly to organizations including Portland's Dougy Center for grieving youth, Salem's Liberty House child advocacy center, and Oregon City's Bloomin' Boutique, according to Connections Academy. A Bloomin' Boutique director says the toys can help calm children dealing with anxiety or autism, according to Oregon State University Extension.
A Gift to Oregon's Secretary of State
Ben and Wyatt gave a Worry Monster to Oregon's secretary of state, KPTV reported.
Many of the monsters feature a zipper-mouth pocket, allowing children to write down their worries and tuck the notes inside.
A National Backdrop of Youth Anxiety
The brothers' work lands amid sobering national numbers on childhood mental health. Federal data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that roughly 11% of U.S. children ages 3 to 17 — more than 7 million kids — had a current diagnosed anxiety disorder in 2023–2024, making it one of the most prevalent pediatric mental health conditions in the country.
The distress doesn't stop at younger children. Nationwide Youth Risk Behavior Survey data from 2023 found that 40% of U.S. high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, with rates notably higher among female and LGBTQ+ students, per the CDC. Against that backdrop, youth-led projects like the LaMonts' fit into a broader pattern of young people launching cause-driven efforts: a Junior Achievement USA survey found 60% of American teenagers are interested in starting their own business rather than following a traditional employment path, Connections Academy reports.
For now, the brothers' operation remains rooted in Oregon City, where family, sewing, and a child's original bedtime fear have combined into a community project.
