Sunday, August 22, 1999
Store gives toys to area law agencies
Tiny bears comfort little kids
BY JANET C. WETZEL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MIDDLETOWN — When things seem unbearable, sometimes just a little hug helps.
The Middletown Division of Fire found that out a few years ago when the department launched its Helping Hugs Bears program.
Now, firefighters carry the cuddly little bears everywhere. And they find plenty of uses for them. Their supply was replenished Friday by an annual donation from Target Stores.
The 75 bears will be put to good use, fire officials said.
“A while back, a father and child wrecked on a motorcycle,” recalled Steve Riley, firefighter/paramedic. “The father was pretty badly injured, and we had to fly him out by helicopter.”
The child, who was about 4 or 5 years old, had a broken leg, but his concern was for Daddy.
“He was just really upset, worried to death about his dad,” Mr. Riley said. “We handed him one of the little bears. That calmed him down and gave him something different to focus on.”
The bears also come in handy during house fires, said Deputy Fire Chief Dennis Sorrell.
“The child may not even be injured, but he or she is probably going through a traumatic situation,” Deputy Chief Sorrell said. “The bears help alleviate their worry — gives them a feeling of well-being, a point of contact.”
The Beanie Baby-size bears are just right for tiny hands, Mr. Sorrell said.
“Seeing how it helps the children makes us know the program is working,” Mr. Sorrel said.
Mr. Riley agreed.
“They just do a whole lot of good, especially if you have to do something to the child, such as start an IV, work on an injury or something. It really helps to distract them,” Mr. Riley said.
The program is mainly designed for field use, but there are other times it helps.
“We've been in the hospital ER dropping off a patient and come across a child wailing his eyes out,” Mr. Riley said. Handing them a bear helps quiet them and makes the hospital staff's job easier.
The department has passed out hundreds of bear hugs, Mr. Sorrell said.
Bill Reed, Target's assets protection team leader, said the company sponsors the program across the country.
Other area police departments have the same program. The Springdale Target store plans to donate six dozen bears Tuesday to police departments in Greenhills, Glendale, Woodlawn and Lincoln Heights. Springdale police, which had bears donated earlier this year by Perkins Family Restaurants, is coordinating the Target donation, Springdale Police Officer Jeff Witte said.
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