Plush Bears Program celebrates 20 years of comfort and joy
The Regina Leader-post Plush Bears Program celebrates a special milestone in 2020:
20 years of bringing comfort and joy to children receiving medical care through the Saskatchewan Health Authority. Over the past two decades, the program has put over 20,000 brand new plush bears in the hands of children in need.
Local businesses sponsor the program and plush bears with the businesses' names attached are distributed by the Regina General Hospital and local EMS units to children in crisis situations.
For a third consecutive year, this year's Plush Bears presenting sponsor is Stone Bridge Redi-mix, located in Emerald Park. The company was established in 2015 by Phil Bergen, Marianne Bergen and Sinead Carroll, providing a complete range of concrete services for residential, commercial and industrial customers. The Bergens also own Bergen Excavating and are partners with Seamus and Sinead Carroll in CLC Building Solutions.
The opportunity to help children in need is a cause near and dear to the hearts of Phil and Marianne Bergen, and their son Austin. As parents, the Bergens empathize with families who are dealing with medical issues. The messages of appreciation the couple has received from families who have received plush bears are heart-warming, says Phil Bergen.
“The Plush Bears Program is such a good cause. It's important to us to give back to the community, from Plush Bears to sponsoring local sports teams. Although 2020 has been a challenging year for local businesses, and things are tight, this was one of the programs we wanted to continue supporting,” says Phil Bergen.
The continued sponsorship of the Plush Bears Program by Stone Bridge Redi-mix and other local businesses is greatly appreciated, says Heath Mulligan, Integrated Advertising Sales Manager for the Regina Leader-post. “It's heart-warming to think of the thousands of children who've received bears over the last 20 years. We're proud to be the second biggest supplier of bear snuggles in Regina (Santa is still number one!). To our sponsors, partner agencies and all the local businesses and individuals who have participated, THANK YOU. You're forever on our “NICE” list.”
Among the recipients of the cuddly plush bears are children in the Pediatric Unit of Regina General Hospital. The plush bears are comforting gifts, says Tegan Webber, a Child Life Specialist in Unit 4F Pediatrics. “Giving the gift of one of your beautiful stuffed animals helps to bring a sense of comfort and normalcy to a strange and often scary experience for a hospitalized child. Your gifts are so very appreciated.”
Nikkoli Hubic, a member of Regina Paramedics with Heart, agrees. “Paramedics in Regina are pleased to be able to offer patients plush bears when they are looking for that extra bit of comfort. We frequently encounter people during their most stressful or traumatic moments and often our job pivots toward reassuring the patient and trying to provide any comfort or joy we can muster up in those dark situations. Sometimes, usually with a pediatric patient, the introduction of a soft and fuzzy plush toy can ease the tension and relax the patient just enough to carry on.”
She adds, “Being able to offer something more than our expertise and medicine is invaluable to the patient but also to the paramedics trying their best to help.
It's another tool in our belt.”
Pandemic safety protocols are a priority in 2020 and the individually wrapped and sealed brand new bears provided by the Regina Leader
Post comply with Saskatchewan Health Authority guidelines. “Having unused plush toys, in clean packaging is now even more impor-tant when compared to sources which may collect used toys for similar purposes. So thank you! And thank you to your sponsors!” says Hubic.