Miss Goldsboro Teen seeks volunteers and sponsors for 'Sound of Smiles' baby‑doll drive for dementia patients

Olivia Lancaster, Miss Goldsboro’s Teen 2025, told the Goldsboro City Council on April 7 about a community drive collecting baby dolls and bears to comfort local residents with dementia and asked the city and community groups for help recruiting volunteers, building a website and finding a t‑shirt sponsor.

Lancaster said her “Sound of Smiles” project visits dementia care facilities and uses music — 1950s, ’60s and ’70s songs — to comfort residents. The current drive began Feb. 23 and is scheduled to run through April with the possibility of extension; Lancaster said donations are being collected at the First Church of Goldsboro, Wayne School of Engineering, Wayne Ophthalmology and the Wayne County Museum and will be distributed to area dementia care facilities.

“Baby dolls and bears help reduce anxiety and agitation, give residents a sense of purpose and can bring back happy memories,” Lancaster said. She described a frequent visitor at a local facility who keeps a doll as a main source of comfort and said staff and families often report that the visits provide “the only joy” some residents see in a month.

Lancaster said she currently visits four facilities each month and is recruiting volunteers, singers and musicians, and asked council members to help connect her with local choirs, church groups, school programs and businesses. She also asked for help building a website to allow volunteers to sign up and track events; she supplied an email address and social media contact to facilitate coordination.

Contact information and background

Lancaster said the best way to contact her is via Instagram or Facebook at the handle missgoldsboro_teen_nc and gave an email address as livsings@icloud.com. She said the project is exploring a countywide “Seniors Comfort Awareness Day” to raise awareness about comfort therapy programs and to support caregivers.

Access to facilities

Lancaster described difficulty getting verified entry to some long‑term care facilities because of strict visitation policies and asked whether the city could help provide a verification process so volunteers could more easily demonstrate they are affiliated with her program.

Why it matters

The initiative combines volunteer outreach, comfort therapy and arts programming for older residents. Research cited by Lancaster and care staff supports the therapeutic value of sensory and reminiscence items in dementia care. Lancaster’s request for logistical support — website development, volunteer recruitment and outreach to local music groups — aims to expand the program’s reach.

Speakers

Olivia Lancaster, Miss Goldsboro’s Teen 2025, presented the drive and outlined volunteer and sponsorship needs. Mayor Terry Gaylor and council members said the presentation may be distributed through the clerk’s office and that individual council members would follow up with relevant contacts.

What’s next

Lancaster said she hopes to expand visits beyond the four facilities she currently serves each month and will work with the clerk’s office and council members on connections to county agencies for senior services. She asked residents and organizations interested in partnering to use the Instagram handle or the email address she provided.

Note: contact details were provided in the presentation by Olivia Lancaster and as spoken on the public record.