Kaden's Kids

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Kaden's Kids aims to assist families of youth by providing prevention, safety, and support.

10/23/2026

One of the programs closest to our hearts has quietly worked in the background for the past few years through our partnership with Double A Custom Night Lights Double A Custom Night Lights. Today, it's time to share a little more about this special program, as we need your help to continue reaching families who need it most.

For families experiencing the unimaginable loss of a child, we provide a personalized memorial night light completely free of charge. Every night light and shipping cost is covered to offer a small source of comfort during life's darkest moments.

Over the past two years, we've gifted 42 lights to families in our communities and surrounding areas. Seeing the comfort these lights bring has inspired us to continue growing this program and reaching even more families.

Every donation, whether it's $5, $10, $25, $100, or any amount, goes directly toward creating and shipping these night lights. 100% of donations support the Child Light Program.

If you'd like to help, please send donations directly to Alexis Maywith Double A Custom Night Lights, who manages the day-to-day operations of the program:

🤍 Venmo:
🤍 Apple Pay: 563-503-9856
🤍 Checks: Please message for mailing address
Please note "Child Light Program" in the memo.

Thank you for supporting Kaden's Kids and Double A Custom Night Lights. Your kindness helps us continue providing comfort on the hard days for grieving families 🤍

09/10/2026

It has been a heartbreaking couple of weeks for us as we’ve had to make the difficult decision to take a break from Touch-A-Truck this year.

Touch-A-Truck has always been about so much more than trucks. It has been about Kaden. It has been about remembering children who should still be here, bringing families together, and creating something good out of the worst thing I’ve ever had to live through.

Our Touch-A-Truck sponsors were a huge reason we were able to make last year’s event happen, and we will forever be grateful for every business and person who stood behind Kaden’s Kids.

But after the expenses of putting on an event that size, there simply wasn’t much left to put toward some of the other programs that mean so much to us—especially our Night Light and care package program.

So today, we are asking for help.

If you are able, we are asking anyone and everyone to consider donating to our Night Light & Care Package Fund.

We want to make sure this program continues into next year and grows into something even bigger.

Partnering with Double A Custom Night Lights has been incredible. The amount of light—both literally and emotionally—that these nightlights have brought into people’s lives during some of their darkest moments is hard to put into words.

One of our goals this year was to recognize as many Iowa families who have lost a child as we could and make sure they received a nightlight. We know a few families may have been missed, and we are continuing to work toward making sure no family is forgotten.

I also want to personally thank Alexis May with Double A Custom Night Lights for the incredible amount of time and effort she has put into making sure these families are recognized. She has worked incredibly hard to make sure people are not overlooked.

And I can speak about the impact of these nightlights because I received one myself when I lost Kaden.

That nightlight changed something for me.

For me, it became a way to recognize my grief.

During the day, it could sit there quietly and almost go unnoticed. But every night, I had to make the choice to turn it on. That simple act became a signal to myself that I needed to stop, recognize where I was emotionally, and acknowledge the grief I was carrying that day.

Sometimes I left it on for 30 seconds.

Sometimes I left it on all night.

But those seconds mattered.

When you lose a child, people say your world stops turning. I think what they don’t always understand is that you don’t just lose your child.

You lose your sense of direction.

You lose pieces of who you were.

You wake up and have no idea what you’re supposed to do with the life that suddenly looks completely different.

And sometimes the smallest reminders can help you find your way through another day.

That is what this program is about.

We want to expand the Night Light program next year into a full care package for families who have lost a child.

We are looking at adding things like photo-etched keychains for parents who reach a point where they are ready to carry something with them every day, along with other meaningful items that can help families navigate the different stages of grief.

Not things that are supposed to “fix” grief.

Because grief doesn’t get fixed.

Things that simply give a parent something to hold onto.

Something to remind them they aren’t alone.

Something to help them take one more step.

And something to work toward when getting through the day feels impossible.

Every donation, no matter the amount, helps us keep this going.

If you can give $5, $10, $25, $100—or whatever you are able to give—it all helps us put another light into another grieving family’s home.

Our Venmo link is in the comments.

If you would like to donate by cash or check, please message us and we will provide you with the address to send it to.

We truly appreciate every bit of love and support you can give Kaden’s Kids as we work to keep this program alive and grow it into something even bigger next year.

And while this year has been heartbreaking, we can’t wait to be back with Touch-A-Truck next year—wherever that may be.

As we navigate this next year, one of our goals is to find a way to make the event more affordable for Kaden’s Kids to put on while also maintaining the incredible relationships we’ve built with the sponsors who have stood beside us.

For now, we’re going to keep doing what we can.

Keep remembering.

Keep helping.

Keep bringing a little light into some of the darkest places.

Because that’s what Kaden’s Kids is about.

Thank you for helping us keep Kaden’s light shining.

— Brandon
Kaden’s Dad

09/05/2026

Today, on International Day of Charity, we’re reminded that changing the world doesn’t always start with grand gestures—it starts with simple acts of kindness.

At Kaden’s Kids, charity means more than giving. It means protecting children, supporting families through unimaginable loss, and building safer communities through education and prevention. Every donation, every volunteer, every share, and every conversation helps create hope for another family.

The greatest gift we can give isn’t just money—it’s our time, our compassion, and our willingness to care for one another.

Today, we encourage you to:
💙 Check in on someone who may be struggling.
🧡 Support a nonprofit making a difference.
💚 Volunteer in your community.
💛 Help protect a child through education and awareness.

Together, we can build a future where more children are safe, more families feel supported, and more lives are changed.

Because every child matters. Every family matters. Every act of kindness matters.

09/01/2026

💙 AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM KADEN’S KIDS 💙

Unfortunately, we will not be hosting Touch-A-Truck in 2026.

This is not an announcement we make lightly, and honestly, it breaks our hearts.

Our first Touch-A-Truck was an incredible success. It brought in important funding for child safety programs, allowed us to support families, and brought our community together around a cause that means everything to us. For that, we will always be incredibly thankful.

Unfortunately, last year’s event ended up putting Kaden’s Kids financially backwards. With the funding we currently have available, we simply cannot take that same risk again this year.

And while the financial side is difficult, our biggest heartbreak is what we are losing this year—the memorial portion of Touch-A-Truck.

Every year, we have the opportunity to recognize children who are no longer here. Their names, their banners, their families, and their stories matter. These are children we continue to stand behind and honor.

We refuse to let that part disappear.

🕯️ We are looking at putting together a memorial service around Christmas this year. We are still working through the details and location, but we hope to focus it around the Dubuque area since that is where our Touch-A-Truck equipment is located.

If you have lost a child and would like your child recognized, please reach out to us. We want to hear their name. We want to honor them. And we want their families to know they are not forgotten.

We would also love to hear your ideas. If you have an idea for a meaningful memorial service or a way we can honor these children, please tell us.

💙 Kaden’s Kids is still standing.
Still fighting.
Still serving.
Still honoring Kaden.
Still standing beside grieving families.

It just looks a little different this year.

We also have some very important things happening behind the scenes.

📖 Brandon is nearing completion of his book, with hopes of having it published around Kaden’s birthday. This book is being written for grieving parents and anyone who has experienced the loss of someone they love.

It isn’t going to sugarcoat grief.

It will talk about the raw emotions, the anger, the loneliness, the reality of losing a child, and the struggle of figuring out how to keep living when the life you knew no longer exists.

But it will also talk about finding your way forward.

Because grief doesn’t mean your life is over. It means learning how to live a life that looks completely different than the one you imagined.

We are also continuing our work toward 3D-printed nightlights for grieving parents, future grief care packages, and child-safety programs and events throughout the coming year.

💙 If you would like to help, donations are greatly appreciated.

Your support can help us:
• Fund nightlights for grieving parents
• Build future grief care packages
• Support child-safety education and events
• Continue recognizing children who have been lost
• Help Kaden’s Kids continue serving families throughout our community

Every dollar helps us do something meaningful for a family.

And 2027 is not off the table.

Our hope is to return with the biggest and best Touch-A-Truck Kaden’s Kids has ever put together. We want to bring the trucks back, bring the community back, expand the memorial, and raise the kind of funding that allows us to put even more directly into child safety and helping grieving families.

But to make that happen, we will need funding, volunteers, sponsors, and community support.

So for 2026, we simply have to make the responsible decision.

We are incredibly sorry that we cannot bring Touch-A-Truck to you this year.

We know how much this event means to our community.

We know how much it means to the families who have lost a child.

And believe us when we say this decision hurts us too.

Thank you to every person, business, volunteer, sponsor, family, and organization that has supported Kaden’s Kids and Touch-A-Truck.

Thank you for believing in what we are trying to build.

And thank you for continuing to stand with us as we honor Kaden and every child whose family has had to learn how to live with an unimaginable loss.

Touch-A-Truck may be taking a year off.
Kaden’s Kids is not.

💙 Kaden’s Kids — still standing, still serving, still honoring.

If you would like to be involved with our upcoming memorial service, have a child you would like us to recognize, have an idea for honoring these children, or would like to donate toward our nightlights, care packages, or child-safety programs, please reach out to us.

More details will be coming soon.

🕯️ *They may be gone from our arms, but they will never be forgotten.

08/28/2026

❤️ LOCAL SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT — SCOTT’S FURNITURE STRIPPING & MORE ❤️

Local businesses aren’t usually built overnight. They’re built through blood, sweat, tears, hard work, dedication, and years of showing up — and that couldn’t be more true when it comes to our newest sponsor, Scott’s Furniture Stripping & More in Marion!

It has been really cool getting to know Scott and learning more about his business and the long-lost art of quality furniture restoration.

Scott has been in the furniture restoration business for over 40 years! That’s four decades of experience, craftsmanship, and knowledge that you just can’t replace.

Whether you have Grandma’s old rocking chair that needs some love, a family heirloom you want brought back to life, or you’re looking to purchase a unique piece of antique furniture, Scott is the guy to talk to. His attention to detail and passion for the craft really shows in his work.

🪑 Furniture Restoration
🔨 Furniture Stripping & Refinishing
🧰 Hardware Replacement
🏡 Antique Furniture & More

📍 Stop by Scott’s Furniture Stripping & More in Marion and give him the opportunity to take care of your furniture restoration needs!

And from all of us at Kaden’s Kids, THANK YOU, SCOTT! ❤️

We appreciate our small local sponsors more than we can put into words. We understand the work that goes into running a small business and how hard you have to work for every dollar you earn.

Knowing that you choose to take some of those hard-earned dollars and put them toward helping us continue our mission means a lot.

Small businesses supporting local causes is what makes a community stronger.

Thank you, Scott, for believing in Kaden’s Kids and for supporting what we’re trying to accomplish. ❤️

If you’re in Marion, go check out Scott’s Furniture Stripping & More — support local, support small business, and support a true craftsman who has been doing this for over 40 years!

’sFurnitureStrippingAndMore

08/11/2026

Today is National Son and Daughter Day. 💙💗

For many families, today is filled with photos, hugs, laughter, and celebrations. We hope every parent gets to soak in those moments because they are truly priceless.

For others, today carries a different kind of weight.

Today, we honor the sons and daughters who should still be here. The children who are loved just as deeply today as they were yesterday. The ones whose names are still spoken, whose memories still fill our hearts, and whose impact will never fade.

At Kaden’s Kids, we want every grieving parent to know this: your son or daughter matters, and so does your love for them. Grief doesn’t end because the world moves on. Your child will always be your child.

Whether your son or daughter is beside you, miles away, or lives on in your heart, take a moment today to celebrate the love that will always connect you.

In honor of all sons and daughters—and especially those gone too soon—we remember, we love, and we never forget.

💙 Share your favorite photo or memory of your son or daughter in the comments if you’d like. We’d be honored to celebrate them with you.

08/01/2026

🍎✏️ Back-to-School Season ✏️🍎

For many families, this time of year is filled with excitement. New backpacks, fresh school supplies, first-day pictures, and the anticipation of another year of learning, friendships, and unforgettable memories.

At Kaden’s Kids, we celebrate every child who gets to walk through those school doors. We hope this year is filled with growth, kindness, laughter, and opportunities to become the incredible people they were created to be.

But as we celebrate, we also pause to recognize the parents whose children won’t be starting another school year.

For grieving families, back-to-school season can be one of the hardest reminders of what’s missing. There are no school supply lists to shop for, no first-day outfits to pick out, no photos at the front door, and no stories to hear after the final bell rings. While the world moves forward, many parents are quietly carrying a heartbreak that never leaves.

Today, we remember those children. We honor their lives, speak their names, and hold their families close in our hearts.

As your children head back to school, cherish the ordinary moments. Walk them to the bus stop. Ask about their day. Celebrate their successes. Be present through the challenges. The little moments often become the ones we treasure most.

From all of us at Kaden’s Kids, we wish every student a safe, successful, and joyful school year. And to every family carrying the weight of child loss, please know you are not forgotten. Your children will always matter, and so will your journey.

💙 Here’s to a school year filled with learning, kindness, safety, and making memories that last a lifetime.

07/28/2026

At Kaden’s Kids, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Mindy Jackson for proudly displaying a Kaden’s Kids yard sign in front of
the medical clinic she owns . Your support means more than words can express.

When Kaden’s Kids was founded, our mission was centered on child safety, prevention, and supporting families in our community. It didn’t take long after hosting our very first Touch-A-Truck event in Dubuque to realize just how many parents in our small communities are grieving the unimaginable loss of a child.

As parents who have experienced child loss, one of the greatest gifts someone can give us is the opportunity to talk about our children. Whether it’s creating a nonprofit in their honor, building a memorial, or simply sharing their story, we do it because we never want our children to be forgotten.

Recently, Mindy sat down with Brandon and shared the beautiful story of her daughter, Hope. While every family’s journey through grief is different, one thing remains the same—we all carry an incredible love for our children, and sharing their stories keeps their memories alive.

Thank you, Mindy, not only for representing Kaden’s Kids but also for trusting us with Hope’s story. And thank you to the Jackson family for reminding us, once again, of the smile that appears on a grieving parent’s face when they’re given the chance to talk about the child they love so deeply.

Hope’s story matters. Kaden’s story matters. Every child’s story matters.

Thank you for standing with us and helping ensure these precious lives are never forgotten. ❤️

07/27/2026

Community Help Needed ❤️
Kaden’s Kids is currently looking for donated or low-cost storage space to help us continue serving families across Iowa.
Kaden’s Kids was founded in memory of my son, Kaden, who tragically passed away in a drowning accident in 2024. In his honor, our nonprofit is dedicated to providing child safety education, drowning prevention resources, family support, and assistance to children and families throughout Iowa.
As we continue to grow, we’ve accumulated supplies for community events, educational materials, care packages, and donated items. We’re hoping a local business, organization, or community member may have storage space they would be willing to donate or offer at a reduced cost.
If you have available space or know someone who might be able to help, please send me a message. Sharing this post would also mean the world to us.
Thank you for helping us keep Kaden’s legacy alive and making a difference for Iowa families. 💙

Address

Hiawatha, IA
52233

Telephone

+13196547292

Website

https://kadenskids.com/

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