Sawmill Intermediate School

• Monday, February 15, 2010

Students at Mandracchia Sawmill Intermediate School in Commack collected 146 teddy bears to donate to Hugs Across America. The not-for-profit charity was founded by Sue Lucarelli, who was a teacher in a Manhasset school when the towers went down on September 11, 2001.  She recalled, "The school went into lock-down as a precaution, and one of my anxious students said to me, "I need a hug!"" She gladly complied, and thought to give the youngster one of the class teddy bears as an added comforter. And as simply as that, the concept of Hugs Across America was born. The organization now has 195 chapters nationwide and has distributed more than 460,000 teddy bears to children who might "need a hug" to cope with events in their lives. The bears are distributed to children of military parents who have been deployed, children who are involved in family court struggles, natural disasters, or are grieving. Many fire engines and police cars carry a spare bear or two to give to youngsters at emergency scenes. Each bear that is given out has an attached tag that indicates the giver's name and the message, "I care." Sawmill fifth grade student council representative Olivia Dubi initiated the idea of collecting the teddy bears for children. A bit of research by student council advisor Phyllis Solomon led her to Hugs Across America. Its mission statement echoes the feelings of the Sawmill students, "In this often troubled and troubling world, it is our mission to bring comfort to children in crisis through the hugs of teddy bears and messages of loving care."        Article by:      Brenda Lentsch
                                                       Webmaster CIW, Public Relations
                                                        Commack Public Schools

Haitian Children

• Thursday, February 11, 2010

As we all seek to bring relief to the thousands of Haitian families who have been devastated by this horrible earthquake, I would like all to know that Hugs Across America has been doing its part as well.  I have been in touch with the Haitian Council in NYC which represents thousands of Haitian nationals in the NYC area, many of whom are known to have lost family members.  The Haitian Community Council, lead by Samuel Barthelemy, has requested that Hugs provide teddy bears to the children of those who have suffered lost family who live in several local areas.   He has specifically requested teddies for counselors, social workers as well as several churches and 39 NYC public schools with high populations of Haitian children. To date Hugs has distributed over 819 teddies to grieving and anxious children with family members who have lost their lives in Haiti.  In the last few weeks, the public schools have seen an influx of children directly from Haiti, who were actually victims of the earthquake.  Every effort is being made to ease the trauma experienced by these young victims.

Our prayers go out to all who have suffered in this crisis.

Later, as shelters and orphanages are created in the stricken areas of Port au Prince as well as in the out lying areas, we will mount an appeal to send teddies directly to Haiti.  Thank you as always for your concern and help with comforting children in traumatic circumstances.

Hugs Sends Teddies Onboard the USS WASP

• Monday, November 30, 2009

The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS WASP anchored off Ocho Rios, Jamaica in November.  The sailors and Marines are set to deliver much needed medical supplies to the St. Ann's Bay Hopsital as well as some of the 250 teddy bears on board.

This stop is one of several the ship will be making in the Caribbean region as part of a three month deployment  under the Theater Security Cooperation and Continuing Promise.

Hugs Helps Eagle Scout Give to Foster Children

• Monday, November 30, 2009

Eddie Lyon, Life Scout of Boy Scout troop 183 in Little Neck, NY, remembers what it was like to be a foster child shuffling from one family to another until you really find a "home".

Eddie has made it his Eagle Scout project through Lutheran Social Services of NY to bring to over 100 children in the foster care system of greater New York a bag of items that each child can keep as his/her very own.  Each bag includes a big, soft huggable teddy bear from Hugs Across America as well as some personal items such a toothbrush, soap, towel and a story book.

We are delighted to help Eddie with his project and are so very proud that he has chosen to help others in need.