Children at ANMC receive comfort from teddy bears thanks to Alaska Zoo donations
December 21, 2017
When staying at the Alaska Native Medical Center hospital, it’s important for our children to be comfortable so they can start to feel better. Something as small as a soft, cuddly teddy bear can make a kid feel cozier in his or her hospital bed.
Thanks to the Alaska Zoo and their generous visitors and donors, 50 stuffed polar teddy bears were delivered to ANMC Inpatient Pediatrics just in time for the holidays. The stuffed animals were donated through the Alaska Zoo’s Hospital Bear Donations program.
This is the first year ANMC and the Alaska Zoo have partnered on the program, which also delivers the teddy bears to the Children’s Hospital at Providence. The partnership developed through the new Child Life Program at ANMC. The program helps children and their families navigate the emotionally and physically demanding process of coping with illness, injury, disability, trauma and hospitalization. The Child Life Program at ANMC is funded by the Healthy Alaska Natives Foundation (HANF), ANTHC’s fundraising arm.
Sue Hedge, Gift Shop Manager at the Alaska Zoo, made the special delivery to Inpatient Pediatrics nurses and Joanna Davis, Child Life Specialist at ANMC.
Polar Bears are $10 each. The Alaska Zoo delivers the bears in groups to staff at both hospitals. To donate a bear through the Alaska Zoo, visit: https://www.alaskazoo.org/hospital-bear-donations/.
To learn more about HANF or to donate to the Child Life Fund, which funds needs for the Child Life Program at ANMC, visit: https://inspiringgoodhealth.org/child-life-program/.