Feel Better Friends
Feel Better Friends Custom Doll · About this organization
What you get
One handmade doll customized to the child's eye, skin, hair, clothing, and other visible characteristics.
How to start
Fill in the regional form, sign electronically, and email at least two named, unfiltered photos to the regional administrator.
Good to know
- An adult friend or family member must submit the request and photos.
- At least two unfiltered photos must be emailed separately.
The details, as published
An adult friend or family member may request a one-time handmade doll customized to resemble a U.S. child age 2 through 16 whose serious medical condition makes childhood more complicated or makes the child feel different. The form and emailed-photo step are currently available, but delivery depends on a regional volunteer waiting list and may take weeks or months.
What help you may get
Practical Items And Home Help
Custom likeness doll
One handmade doll customized to the child's eye, skin, hair, clothing, and other visible characteristics; volunteers may represent hair loss, wigs, scars, glasses, ports, glucose monitors, and other medical devices when feasible.
Noncash help · One Time
1 items lifetime
Can cover
- Handmade custom doll
- Custom hair or removable wig
- Representations of visible characteristics and medical devices when feasible
Does not cover
- Replacement donated doll when the child's equipment or health presentation later changes
- Dolls are donated; a shipping donation is requested when affordable but is not required.
- Donated Feel Better Friends are given once in a lifetime.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. Pediatric B-ALL is a serious medical condition and cancer is expressly included in the organization's description of children served.
Age
Age 2 to age 16, measured at application.
- The live form states that donated dolls are intended for children physically age 2 through 16.
Treatment status
Newly Diagnosed, Active Treatment, Maintenance Treatment, Relapse Or Recurrence, Palliative Or Hospice
- The form accepts rush explanations for scheduled surgery, extended inpatient stays, or hospice care; it does not publish a general treatment-phase cutoff.
- The form asks whether the family can donate toward shipping, but states that eligible children are not turned away and donations are not necessary.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
You must live in: United States; applicant selects the regional form based on the child's residence..
- Use the Northeast, South, Midwest, or West form according to the child's residence.
Where your child is treated
Treatment-location rules are not published clearly; confirm with the program.
Where the service, camp, stay, or experience happens
- The completed doll is mailed to the verified shipping address. — Doll is shipped to the verified U.S. address supplied in the regional form.
How to get started
Does a social worker or care team need to start it? No. A required care-team start is not published; the family can use the available route below.
Who can start: Parent Or Guardian, Caregiver, Community Referrer
- Choose the official regional form based on the child's residence and gather the requested child, likeness, medical-condition, allergy, shipping, consent, and narrative details.
- Complete the regional form, sign electronically, and email at least two named, unfiltered photos to the regional administrator.
- Acknowledge and review the request, verify the shipping address, place an eligible request in the regional queue, and connect it with a volunteer.
- Check email frequently and respond promptly to questions from the administrator or volunteer doll maker.
Ways to apply or ask
- Web Form · Open form or page — Use for a child residing in the Midwest region shown on the official map.
- Web Form · Open form or page — Use for a child residing in the Northeast region shown on the official map.
- Web Form · Open form or page — Use for a child residing in the South region shown on the official map.
- Web Form · Open form or page · FBFdolls.USA.west@gmail.com — Use for a child residing in the West region shown on the official map; email the required photos to this regional address.
Documents to prepare
- At least two unfiltered photos of the child: one close-up portrait and one full-body photo in a favorite outfit, emailed separately to the regional administrator.
- A volunteer accepts the assignment, communicates with the applicant as needed, handcrafts the doll, and ships it to the verified address.
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Open |
| Funding or space | Limited |
| Application window | Rolling |
| Last checked | Aug 27, 2026 |
- Live regional forms are accepting submissions; volunteer queues vary and delivery can take months.
- Administrators process requests in submission order; waiting time varies by regional queue.
- If no administrator responds within 7–10 business days, follow up to confirm receipt.
- The form says the full process may take 3–4 weeks, 3–4 months, or longer depending on the regional waiting list.
Limitations and things to confirm
- Age 2 through 16 only.
- One donated doll per child in a lifetime.
- An adult friend or family member must submit the request and photos.
- At least two unfiltered photos must be emailed separately.
- Waiting time varies by regional volunteer queue.
- Confirm current state-to-region mapping and regional queue lengths before a family chooses a form.
Official sources
Program details were last verified Aug 27, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- Question and Answers · checked Aug 27, 2026
- Request a Doll · checked Aug 27, 2026
- Doll Requests in the USA · checked Aug 27, 2026
- Feel Better Friends USA Doll Request — West · checked Aug 27, 2026