COEUR d’ALENE — “Operation Snuggle” is a go.

In lieu of Christmas gifts for herself, 8-year-old Kinley Warwick asked for baby dolls and teddy bears, which she planned to give to residents of local assisted living facilities who have dementia.

She made her first donation to memory care residents at The Village at Orchard Ridge in Coeur d’Alene on Friday.

Each baby doll was bundled up in a baby blanket, tied with a bow. Kinley learned to use a sewing machine so she could make blankets herself, using donated fabric.

“Her work ethic is showing,” said Kinley’s grandmother, Dina, who helped organize the project.

Kinley gave more than a dozen dolls and bears to Orchard Ridge residents.

Resident Bonnie Mayer knew right away which bear she wanted.

“The one with the smile,” she said, pointing.

After Kinley offered the bear, Bonnie embraced her.

“When I don’t feel good, I’m going to hug this bear and think of you,” she said.

Bonnie said she was touched by Kinley’s gift.

“A lot of times, you have young people who aren’t raised to give,” she said. “Then you realize that there are a lot of parents who are doing a good job. To brighten our day was really special.”

Another resident, Dorothy Fullerton, appeared charmed by her new baby doll, which had big brown eyes. As she admired the doll, she recalled raising her own children — two sons and a daughter.

“Not that we didn’t enjoy the boys,” she said. “But that girl really brought the charm out.”

Holding the baby doll seemed to bring back memories of earlier times. Her daughter’s name is Patty Sue; she called her baby doll “Brown-Eyed Susan.”

“I’ll cherish this doll, I guarantee it,” she said.

Kinley’s grandmother has been collecting donated dolls, bears and blankets at Gittel’s Grocery in Coeur d’Alene, where she’s a manager.

“We’ve all been touched by dementia in some form,” Dina told The Press in December, when she began accepting donations. Her mother and great-grandmothers were all diagnosed with dementia. “A lot of times, when people are put into homes, they get forgotten. We felt like, if they have something to hold and cuddle, they’re never alone.”

Doll therapy is an alternative, nonpharmacological therapy to help ease anxiety among people with dementia. Though studies on doll therapy are limited, research has shown it can reduce the need for medications and lessen agitation, aggression and wandering.

Orchard Ridge activities assistant Jill Nearing said the dolls and bears meant a great deal to the residents.

“We have a 104-year-old lady who thought it was such a blessing,” she said.

The resident named her doll Jerry, after her own son, and worried that he would be cold because his head was uncovered.

“It’s a big impact,” Nearing said. “This will be good for them.”

She said she expects the residents to be abuzz about the gifts for days.

“Kinley put a lot of smiles on a lot of faces,” she said.

For her part, Kinley said she was nervous before making the donation. But as she handed out dolls and bears, warmly welcomed by the residents and staff at Orchard Ridge, she was all smiles.

“I feel happy,” she said.

Dina said she and Kinley plan to visit more local assisted living facilities in the coming weeks.

Dolls, blankets and fabric can be donated at Gittel’s Grocery in Coeur d’Alene, 1201 N. Government Way.