Most people think of Valentine’s Day as a day that is celebrated only if you are in a relationship. While this may be true for many couples, Valentine’s Day is so much more than fancy dinners and expensive gifts. It’s about the act of loving, and being loved in return. Everybody loves to be loved. The feeling of knowing that there is someone out there who cares about you can make all of the difference, especially when going through a difficult time. There is no better feeling than knowing you are not alone and that somebody cares.
This Valentine’s Day, enCourage Kids Foundation, a 501(c)3 children’s non-profit organization, is sending love to children who need it most- those who are currently battling illnesses in the hospital. Through their “Send a Smile, Send a Bear” campaign, a $25.00 donation sends a sick child a cuddly friend to show them that they are appreciated, loved, and never alone. These bears become a source of comfort for the child and a part of their medical journey every step of the way.
Because it’s not all about receiving chocolate or flowers- it’s not about that kind of love this Valentine’s Day. It’s about being kind and giving love, showing that the feeling of love means so much more than being in a relationship. That special feeling of love is shown, and received throughout acts of kindness towards others. That feeling of love is shown through appreciation, and the act of caring for one another. Because when you show someone you love them, you feel love in return.
“enCourage Kids Foundation encourages all kids facing health challenges to be carefree kids by creating environments and experiences that help them through each step of their medical journey. “
This is not the first time enCourage Kids Foundation has impacted children across the nation with their “Send a Smile, Send a Bear” program. Throughout 2016, over 2400 bears were sent to hospitals in the tri-state area to show that these children are never alone, and that they are loved! Recently, enCourage Kids began to expand their bear program by sending 60 bears to the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles this holiday season.
Doug Leffin, Child Life Specialist at CHLA, shared, “The children at CHLA have a wide variety of medical needs, but they each have their own unique responses to their hospital experience. Your special gifts really made an impact and created a place for the children to feel a bit safer and more supported during their hospital stay. That is worth so much to the children, their parents, and the staff!”
These teddy bears are much more than just a physical object for each patient to hold. There’s a mutual emotional understanding that somebody who loves and cares for them has given them a bear, then the bear is with them from the start. Sharon Granville, Director of Child Life Services at the Phyllis and David Komansky Center for Children's Health NewYork-Presbyterian /Weill Cornelll wrote about them in such a way that truly emphasizes the importance of love for these kids.
“We primarily use the enCourage Kids bears for our pre admission tour program, each child who comes in for a tour receives one and the child life specialist uses the bear with medical play to help teach about anesthesia and any bandages a child can expect to wake up with.The bear encourages bravery and comfort by providing an emotionally safe way to learn about new healthcare experiences. Play is a child's work so for a child to have a "vehicle" to do so empowers him/her to explore, learn and master new experiences. I personally love the size of the bear, its perfect for medical play, big enough to examine and bandage while being a great size for hugging.
enCourage Kids Foundation is taking Valentine’s Day Love to an admirable level that stresses the importance of giving, receiving, and being loved.
Chocolates, cards, flowers, and gifts all have a price tag. While this bear has a small price too, the ultimate end of a child feeling loved, cared about, and having a friend with them to hang on to for another day of hope- that’s priceless.
To Send A Bear and send some love, click here