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Port Washington Teens Help Hugs

• Wednesday, August 19, 2009

This summer the " AT LAST " teen camp sponsored by the Port Washington, New York School System sent 25 youngsters to help with Hugs activities at the National Office in Manhasset.  This project encourages teenagers to spend their summers in fun and community service.  They were sure helpful to Hugs as they readied teddy bears for several military troups ready for deployment, as well as for local hospital pediatric units, and prepared a teddy bear lollipop fundraiser for their school Fair.  The group had a great time and were enthusiastic workers.  Thank you AT LAST, you are a terrific bunch of kids and we are delighted with your enthusiasm in helping others who are in difficult situations.  We look forward to working with you again next summer! 

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USS OAK HILL shares our teddies

• Monday, August 17, 2009

Marines and Sailors from USS OAK HILL (LSD 51) gave out 50 of your Teddy Bears during a visit in Marambaia Island, Brazil, which is near Rio de Janeiro.  It's part of a U.S. Marine Corps South Exercise "Southern Exchange" that will finish up this weekend.  There is much more information at www.southcom.mil

As you can see from the pictures, your Bears were given to children who took part in a Medical/Dental Exchange with the Brazilians.
CDR Lewis Preddy
COMFOURTHFLT Project Handclasp Coordinator

RIO DE JANEIRO (July 28, 2009) Sailors assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) hand out teddy bears to local children at Marambaia Island, Brazil. Oak Hill is participating in Southern Partnership Station ´09. Southern Partnership Station is a combined naval and amphibious operation with Oak Hill and maritime forces from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. Oak Hill is also supporting U.S. Marine Corps Forces South multinational amphibious exercise Southern Exchange 2009. (U.S Army photo by Spc. Corey Idleburg/Released)

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USS Oak Hill Teddies to Deploy

• Friday, May 29, 2009

50 Teddy bears have been sent for medical and dental providers who will be working with Brazilian practicioners.  The Sailors involved would be off of USS OAK HILL (LSD 51), deploying under the Southern Partnership Station Banner.  These teddy bears will be for the use of the medical and dental practitioners who treat children on the island of Marambaia (Ilha da Marambaia), Brazil.
The US practitioners will be working with Brazilian practitioners there. The island is about 50 miles from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. The primary focus of Southern Partnership Station is training, so it's a small contingent, but they are delighted to receive teddies to comfort frightened or hurting children who need medical attention on the Island.

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Community Service Badge for Scouts

• Thursday, May 21, 2009

Our new Greater LA Chapter of hugs, entitled " Bear Hugs R Best" is launching a badge for Girl and Boy Scouts to encourage community service in the LA area.  They are working with Hugs to develop requirements that are age appropriate and an effective tool for youngsters interested in bringing hugs to children in crisis.

This is a sneak preview of  the badge.  What do you think ?  Will this help your group as you begin to work with Hugs? 

                       Girl/Boy Scout Community Service Badge with

                                          Hugs Across America

         Requirements:

 1. Brainstorm with your parents, leaders or a friend about what  a "crisis" for a child might be.

2. Watch TV news for 1 week - document circumstances in    which children might be in crisis.

3. Read local news daily for 1 week and cut out articles in which children might be in crisis.

4. Write a paragraph or talk about how children in crisis might feel, use examples from your research.

5. Think about your own experience and write or tell a friend about how your teddy helped you when you were scared or sad.

6. Find out what organizations in your community would help children   who are hurting, frightened or are in an emergency situation. Examples: Fire Dept/ Police Dept/Ambulance Service, Hospital, County Sheriff, Grief Counseling Center, Family Court, American Red Cross, temporary shelters etc.

7. Draw a map of your community locating these places.

8. Decide how and where you will collect teddy bears to comfort children in crisis. The bears have to be new, 9"- 14" in size for good hugging and not fancy...just a comfort bear.

9. Design/create signs/flyers to request teddies.

10. Talk to your church, school, local businesses or neighbors about joining your effort.

11. Design/make collection boxes (large enough for a bunch of teddies) for each group that wishes to help

12. Hand out flyers about your project

13. When bears are collected, write out tags with messages of concern and hope, and then place one around each teddy's neck.

14. Deliver bears to agency that you or your troop decides to support.

15. Take pictures of your effort and write a news article to be submitted   to your local paper and to Hugs Across America for your Chapter website.

16. Research and discuss what other agencies or professions use bears to help children.

17. Research and discuss what other age groups other than children might benefit from teddy bear hugs.