Community Corner

Grieving Children Get Bears to Hug

The Penny Bear organization donated 59 Teddy Bears to children grieivng the loss of a loved one.

This article was written by Penny Bear volunteer Elise Scanlan of Swampscott.

From a small, all-volunteer charitable organization in Marblehead, The Penny Bear Company, come messages of love, hope and compassion for those in need.  These messages are carried by gentle messengers — teddy bears. 

A recent Penny Bear outreach project was created to support the Comfort Zone Camp held last summer on Cape Cod.  The camp is designed to provide emotional support, comfort and healing for children who have lost a loved one. 

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After having met and worked with the terrific people at the Comfort Zone Camp, the volunteers from Marblehead, Swampscott and surrounding communities knew they wanted to share their experience with the local community. 

Alana Mitchell, Regional Development and Marketing Manager and Sue Oppici, Camps and Services Manager for Comfort Zone Camp approached Penny Wigglesworth, founder of The Penny Bear Company, about the possibility of receiving a contribution of Penny Bears for their upcoming camp.

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  Penny graciously welcomed them into her home to meet with the volunteers during their weekly get together, where they were able to share the mission and vision of the CZC with the group.  

Inspired by the big hearts and generosity of the people involved with the camp, the volunteers wholeheartedly jumped on board and prepared 59 loveable Penny Bears for delivery to the children attending the August camp. 

They also included a copy of “Penny Bears Gift of Love,"  a heartwarming story written by Penny, about a child who finds comfort and hope during the grieving process.

Penny Bears are just the right size to hold, hug, laugh and cry with and have become a symbol of comfort, compassion and love — perfect for these children in need of a hug as they move through the process of grieving after the loss of a loved one.

Every camper has a volunteer personal counselor called a “Big Buddy."  Once the bears arrived at the camp, each Big Buddy wrote their assigned camper’s name on a tag with the bear and book and put them on their camper’s bunk, awaiting their arrival. 

According to Sue Oppici, the bears were “perfect for so many of the kids who were homesick the first night, scared, apprehensive etc. The books were a big hit too.”

Magic happens when people join one another with their hands and their hearts to make the world a happier, safer place.  The Penny Bear Company is thankful for the opportunity to be a part of that magic. 

To continue the circle of giving that is the heart of its foundation, and to support its ongoing mission of providing love, hope and compassion wherever it is needed, The Penny Bear Company gratefully accepts and relies on financial donations. 

The organization’s dedicated team of volunteers welcomes your support, interest and participation in their programs. 

For more information, to make donations, or to share ideas about individuals or organizations who would benefit from receiving the priceless gift of knowing someone cares, please email Penny Wigglesworth at pennywigg@comcast.net, phone the organization at 781.639.2828 or visit their web site at www.pennybear.org


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