One Jacksonville business is making a lasting impact in the military community by helping children stay connected to deployed parents.
Hug A Hero has been in operation for more than 20 years, creating custom dolls designed to look like a child’s deployed loved one. Each doll is sewn, designed, shipped and often personally handed out to families right in Jacksonville.
For children in military families, saying goodbye can be one of the most difficult parts of service. Months apart from a parent can leave an emotional void at home. Hug A Hero aims to help bridge that distance.
Founder and CEO Tricia Dyal started the company after her own husband deployed, leaving her home with newborn twins.
“What he left was newborns. What he came back to was walking and talking little girls,” Dyal said. “She’s in her crib and the door opens — he’s in his camo — and he wakes her up and she looks at him and she looks at the doll. She drops the doll and looks at Justin and says ‘Daddy.’ And that’s the first time I saw tears in his eyes because she wouldn’t have known who he was.”
Dyal said that moment inspired her to help other military families facing similar challenges.
Hug A Hero is made up largely of military spouses. Over the years, the company has sent dolls to families across the country, expanding far beyond its Jacksonville roots.
“Whenever I see the little ones carrying the dolls, there is so much emotion that comes over me,” Dyal said. “Because every time I see a little one it brings me back to the moment where we made the dolls for my babies.”
The company has sold hundreds of thousands of dolls, helping military and first responder families stay connected when duty calls.
Recently, Hug A Hero has seen a surge in orders and has brought in volunteers to help meet demand.
“The increase has more than tripled the last few [months],” Dyal said. “With everything that’s going on in the world everywhere, our world has been shook as military, and it has affected children and spouses worldwide.”
In addition to the dolls, Hug A Hero offers programs such as the Heavenly Hero program and spouse events to support families with loved ones overseas.
The organization is currently seeking sponsors for its April Military Child of the Month initiative, which provides dolls to children in military families.