Some stories deserve a sequel.
If you've been following Nanat Baby for a while, you might remember the adventure our blankets had last year.
They were supposed to be part of Operation Smile Peru's annual fundraising raffle.
Instead... they decided to take the scenic route.
Thanks to an unexpected shipping delay, our little travelers arrived after the event had already ended. What could have been a disappointment turned into something even more meaningful when the Operation Smile Peru team gifted the blankets directly to two babies receiving care through their comprehensive cleft program.
We met Lionel.
We met Arya.
And we were reminded that sometimes the best stories don't go according to plan.
This year, however...
The blankets made it. 🎉
Happy Stripes and Dawn Took Center Stage
On May 28, 2026, Operation Smile Peru held its annual Solidarity Raffle.
This year's event featured 75 prizes, generated 3,595 raffle ticket purchases, and was broadcast live on Facebook, bringing together supporters from across Peru.
Nanat Baby was honored to donate two of our blankets: Happy Stripes and Dawn Ombre.
The best part?
According to Flavia and the Operation Smile Peru team...
"The blankets were a huge hit; everyone loved them, and they caused a lot of enthusiasm throughout the raffle."
As a small business owner, those words mean more than you might imagine.
Every Nanat Baby blanket begins as an original watercolor painting before being transformed into an ultra-soft baby blanket made from premium Peruvian Pima cotton.
You spend hours sketching.
Painting.
Tweaking colors.
Perfecting tiny details.
Then you hope that something you created will become part of someone's story.
Sometimes that story begins in a nursery.
Sometimes it begins halfway around the world.
More Than a Fundraiser
This year's raffle raised enough funds to provide comprehensive care for 14 patients.
Operation Smile Peru doesn't simply fund surgeries.
Their teams provide reconstructive surgery, speech therapy, dental care, nutritional support, and ongoing follow-up care so children born with cleft conditions have the opportunity to thrive.
Every year, around 600 babies are born with cleft conditions in Peru.
Most will require three to five surgeries throughout childhood.
The approximately 450 surgeries Operation Smile Peru performs each year are only possible because thousands of people choose to help.
Sometimes by buying a raffle ticket.
Sometimes by donating.
Sometimes by volunteering.
And sometimes by donating two baby blankets.
Why This Partnership Means So Much
People often ask why supporting Operation Smile Peru feels so personal to Nanat Baby.
The answer is simple.
Our blankets are made in Peru using one of the world's most beautiful natural fibers: Peruvian Pima cotton.
Supporting Peruvian children and families feels like giving back to the country where every Nanat Baby blanket begins its journey.
As a socially responsible business, we've always believed beautiful products can do more than bring comfort.
They can create connection.
They can support communities.
They can help tell stories worth sharing.
Being a business that gives back isn't about grand gestures.
It's about showing up, year after year, in whatever way you can.
The Story Isn't Over Yet...
One of my favorite updates came a few weeks after the raffle.
Flavia shared that one of the winners had recently become a grandmother and was absolutely thrilled to receive her prize.
She even promised to send a photo once the new baby arrives wrapped in the blanket.
I can't think of a more perfect ending.
Or perhaps...
The beginning of the next chapter.
Thank You
To Flavia and the incredible team at Operation Smile Peru, thank you for welcoming Nanat Baby back to this year's raffle and for the extraordinary work you do every day.
Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket, donated, volunteered, or simply shared the event with others.
And thank you for reminding us that kindness has a remarkable way of traveling.
Sometimes it arrives late.
Sometimes it arrives exactly when it's needed.
If you'd like to support Operation Smile Peru and help children born with cleft conditions receive life-changing comprehensive care, please consider making a donation. Every act of generosity helps create another smile.
From New Hampshire to Peru...
Here's to small blankets, big smiles, and businesses that believe kindness is always worth sharing. 💛
