Carving Comfort Birds

In the winter of 2023-24 Bob Goldberg came to AFS with an idea. While receiving treatment for cancer, he couldn’t help but think of others in those treatment rooms who didn’t have the same kind of support he did. He proposed a program to create “comfort birds” to donate to local hospitals to provide a little bit of care to those who need it most. Created by woodworker Frank Foust in 1982, comfort birds are small enough to fit in the palm of the hand and sanded to a silky-smooth finish to serve as a touchstone during hard times. In honor of the man who inspired them, we’ve renamed our iteration of the project “Bob’s Birds.” In this workshop, create your own comfort bird to gift to a loved one or to keep as a touchstone for yourself!