Making A Difference: Teddy Bears with Hearts

Salinas, Calif – For Susan Hanson, Executive Director for Teddy Bears with Heart, Den of Good Bears of the World, the gift of comfort started with a large collection of bears. At one point Hanson admits, her collection reached 450 bears.

“I happened to be talking to a friend of mine who was a fire captain. He said, he would take a couple and then I started thinking, if he wants some how about other people” says Hanson.

In a rather short time, Hanson found a need for her collection of bears.

“There’s so many more kids and people out there than what I’m able to fulfill so I just keep working at it” says Hanson.

Six years and more than 20,000 bears later, the organization has made it a mission to provide a teddy bear to children, the terminally ill and lonely seniors that have been abused, traumatized or hurt.

“You can come in and someone feels comfortable for a little time and that make them happy” says Hanson.

Each month, teddy bears are given out to hospitals, police and fire departments across Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Clara Counties. Hanson says each year, the organization donates to more than 180 agencies. However Hanson says, they need about 68,000 bears a year to fulfill the needs.

Teddy Bears with Heart, Den of Good bears of the World relies 100 percent on donations and volunteers, like MAS Distribution Owner, Mike Strahl.

“I’m just a volunteer and someone who wants to make a difference” says Strahl.

Mike donated storage space to the organization and gives up his weekends to clean, bag and tag animals before they’re delivered.

“Not everyone has a good family unit. There’s a lot of lonely people out there. We’re doing something great and that’s what it’s all about” says Strahl.

Together both Hanson and Strahl are working together to make a difference and send a message of hope through the hug of a teddy bear.

If you’d like to learn more about volunteering or donating to Teddy Bears with Heart, Den of Good Bears of the world visit their website online at http://www.teddybearswithheart.org/

Also, if you know someone in the community who is making a difference, let us know by sending us an email at Newstips@KIONRightNow.com.