This teddy is one of the bears purchased by Wrangell's Beta Phi Epsilon sorority, which for 30 years has provided the soft toys for children in need of some comfort during trips to the hospital and other emergency services.
Women of a local service organization celebrated 30 years of its teddy bear program this Valentine's Day.
The Wrangell chapter of Beta Sigma Phi (ΒΣΦ) continued its February 14 tradition of a dance and auction at the American Legion, with proceeds from the event going to purchase the plush toys. These in turn get sent to Wrangell Medical Center, providing a buddy for pediatric patients in need of care.
For many years, ΒΣΦ supported the program in association with the Wrangell Lions Club, which discontinued last summer.
"After ordering the first teddy bears we gave out some to the fire department, health center, dentist – anywhere they could be of use," explained Larraine Kagee, ΒΣΦ chapter president.
"The nursing staff said that the bears are a great distraction when they have to give a child an IV, or other treatment in the emergency room," explained Kris Reed, WMC outreach coordinator. "They provide comfort and an 'outside' focus for children who are in pain and may find the emergency room a scary place."
Over the years, the group has continued using funds from the annual dance to acquire bears for the program, or have otherwise pitched in themselves for the purchase.
"The last few years our pie sale on the Fourth (of July) has made it possible to keep the supply going," Kagee added.
The past two years the stand has been shared with the Hospital Auxiliary, which supports operations at WMC, but the club's portion still goes to support the teddy bear program.
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