The South Bend International Airport’s 13th annual Bears in the Air program collected more than 2,600 teddy bears.
Airport officials and team members will begin delivering the bears to children in area hospitals Dec. 18. They will bring teddy bears to Saint Joseph Mishawaka & Plymouth Medical Centers, Beacon Children’s Hospital, Elkhart General Hospital and Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital
The bears provide comfort during a difficult time in a child’s life. Each hospital will distribute the bears throughout the year to young patients.
“Each year corporate partners along with community members join in to support the Bears in the Air program,” said Mike Daigle, airport CEO and executive director, in a press release. “The hospitals rely on this annual influx of teddy bears to help make a young patient’s stay a little easier. We are tremendously thankful and grateful for the continued support.”
The Bears in the Air program also supports vulnerable veterans. This year the program raised more than $29,000. A donation to the Robert L. Miller Sr. Veteran’s Center in South Bend will take place in January. Since the program’s inception 12 years ago, nearly 22,500 new teddy bears have been delivered to children at regional hospitals. About $96,600 has been provided in financial assistance to the Robert L. Miller Sr. Veteran's Center.
