The tornado that ripped through the Little Sioux Scout Ranch showed the boys and their leaders, who have spent their young lives learning about the outdoors, just how fierce Mother Nature can be. Earlier in the week, the scouts drilled on what to do before, during and after a tornado. So Wednesday night, when the clouds had parted and the chaos had passed, the Scouts took count of each other, just as they had practiced. Many showed their bravery as well as their training. Inspite of their own injuries, scouts lifted bricks and debris from others, created tourniquets to stop bleeding and eased their fellows pain until rescuers could arrive. 

Forty-eight children and adults were taken to the Burggess Hospital Emergency Room in nearby Onawa, Iowa,  for triage...as they, too, had recently practiced.  Several of the youngsters remained in the hospital. Hugs bears are there as well ... 50 teddies will be huggable companions to the scouts as they recount their trauma and grieve their loss.  Four Scouts died: Aaron Eilerts, 14, of Eagle Grove, Iowa, and Josh Fennen, 13, Sam Thomsen, 13, and Ben Petrzilka, 14, all of Omaha, Neb.  Our prayers are with them all.

Hugs joins the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in bringing comfort to children hospitalized with the effects of Cystic Fibrosis.  Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that affects approximately 1 in 2,500 babies born in the United States.  Currently, there are about 30,000 people in the United States affected by CF. This disorder is characterized by an increased secretion of sticky mucus, which can affect the function of the lungs, pancreas and other organs of the body.  It can range from a very difficult time to a life threatening circumstance for the child...and a constant challenge to the family.  Hugs Across America is responding to the request for teddies to help bring comfort to the children in 50 different hospital CF units throughout the United States.

ABOARD USS BOXER (LHD 4), San Diego - USS Boxer (LHD 4) 

USS Boxer (LHD 4) along with various embarked units and non-governmental 
organizations (NGO) departed Naval Base San Diego April 28 in route to Latin 
America nations for the Pacific Phase of Continuing Promise (CP) 2008. 
CP is an equal partnership mission designed to combine partner nation 
and U.S. relief capabilities to demonstrate the lasting bonds and shared 
interests among neighbors. Specific locations for the ship’s relief operations 
include Guatemala, El Salvador and  Peru.  The deployment is scheduled 
to last through June.     The Humanitarian Civic Assistance (HCA) mission 
provides partner nations in the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) 
area of focus a mobile, flexible and rapidly responsive medical and engineering 
capability for a number of missions and training opportunities in Central and 
South America.  This is Boxer’s first deployment since returning from the 
Western Pacific in May of 2007.The Pacific Phase of CP is one of two HCA 
deployments planned for the USSOUTHCOM area of focus for 2008.  The 
second CP deployment will be conducted by USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) in 
the Caribbean.  The deployments are modeled in part on last year’s USNS Comfort 
(T-AH 20) deployment to the region that delivered substantial medical and dental 
support to a large number of people in remote locations. They carry the capabilities 
of a well-trained medical staff of more than 30 doctors, nurses and corpsmen. Boxer 
is well suited for providing an array of medical aid...as well as bring comfort to the 
frightened or hurting children brought aboard through the "hugs" of over 250 teddy 
bears from Hugs Across America.

The Pelican Rapids High School band, joined many others at a band contest in Chicago.  On the way home, however,  the 100 youngsters and HS staff, traveling north in 2 busses, met with disaster on I -94 when one of the buses flipped over on the slippery road. One of the band youngsters died in the accident and many more were seriously injured.   Over  1,000 people from this close nit community in northern Minnesota packed the Pelican Rapids High School gymnasium Monday evening to hold hands, share tears and seek comfort amidst the pain they were feeling following the tragic bus accident.   In an effort to comfort grieving classmates, over 100 Hugs Acrross America

teddies will be given to the students as they return to school with the help of Police Chief Jeff Stadum and the Pelican Rapids High School guidance department.

BROCKWAY, Pa. 

This rural western Pennsylvania community is in mourning following a house fire that claimed 10 lives, including a mother, five of her children and three grandchildren.  "We know everybody, so it's like losing one of your own," said William Hrinya, mayor of Brockway, a town of about 2,000 people 80 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

Three generations of Petersons lived together in that home and they were a tight family.   The community's small school district of just about 1,000 students has been hard-hit by the tragedy, said Amy Glasl, principal of Brockway Elementary School. Three children in the family attended her school; two of them died.  The school Guidance Counselor, Barabara Fortunato, who has herself founded an organization called "H.U.G.S." ( Helping Understand Grief Stages),  has requested 60 teddies from Hugs Across America to help the classes deal with their loss as they return to school.

"Will it ever be easier, will the vulnerability go away, will random madness stop"? ... these questions our students want to know.  We can not give the answers, but we can give them hugs, and hope and the sure knowledge that they are not alone in their grief.  115 Hugs teddy bears will greet the 100 students who return to an Ocean Geology class in Cole Hall when classes begin after the massacre on Valentine's Day.  The Counseling Center feels that the students will find comfort in their hugs.

Arkansas and Tennessee were hit particularly hard as more than 12  tornados destroyed hundreds of homes, college dorms, nursing homes and  the lives of over 50 people. The  Hugs Chapter in Little Rock, Arkansas, led by Amber Clark of the "Blackheart 13" Sorority, is mounting a drive to get the hundreds of teddies needed to comfort children effected by this emergency.  She shared her request for bears with the viewing audience of Channel 4 News and has already received a wonderful response.  The American Red Cross of Little Rock, through the efforts of Bridgett Williams, will be providing the first response avenue for the teddies to reach the children whose homes were destroyed. They are requesting 1500 teddies...if you can spare a new teddy, please contact Amber at jajclark@gmail.com

A new Chapter in Bluff City Tennessee, directed by Janet King, will be organizing a response from local churches to meet the need for 500 bears requested by the Nashville Red Cross, under the direction Marquentas Deaderick.  Again, if you would like to help in this effort contact Janet at blessedfaithmin@aol.com     The children are terrified!  Glad to be alive, but saddened by their loss.  The hugs of a teddy surely helps.

There are lots of wonderful ideas out there that help families and kids.  This one started by the Port Washington library staff, combined many aspects of family health as well as provided information and experiences that ease anxiety for young children.  Doctors from the local hospital showed children hospital proceedures with teddy bears while ambulances, fire engines and police cars were all available for a visit.  Children wrote out tags for Hugs, planned to bring new teddies to school for a collection drive to help kids in crisis, listened to teddy hearts and fixed "boo boos", while parents became familiar with organizations in the community that help children.  A wonderful effort and  lots of good will...would this work in your community?

Take a look at this video!  Thanks to the inginuity of our Nebraska Chapter.  Yeah!

The Music Institue of Long Island performed a Holiday Concert to benefit Hugs Across America.  The performers ranged in age from 6 years to 14 years ... of course they were joined by a couple of delighted adults, as well!  The effort was an effective fund raiser and an opportunity for the youngsters to show their remarkable talent.  To those of us who attended the event, it was a wonderful and joyous begining of the Holiday Season.  Blessings to all ...and a very happy New Year!  www.milimusic.com   Take a look, they make beautiful music!

The 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion from Fort Huachuca, Arizona left just before the Holidays.  150 teddies were provided by Hugs so that their children might have a special bear hug before Mom or Dad left.  Thanks to the effort of Family Readiness Coordinator Kristen Lambrecht.