More than 525 teddy bears land at Elkhart General Hospital

ELKHART — South Bend International Airport’s 14th annual Bears in the Air program delivered more than 525 teddy bears to children at Elkhart General Hospital, part of an effort to provide more than 2,600 stuffed animals to five area hospitals.

The bears were delivered to Elkhart on Wednesday by airport CEO and General Manager Mike Daigle and members of the SBN team. Other deliveries were planned to Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph, Mich., Beacon Children’s Hospital in South Bend and St. Joseph Medical Centers in Mishawaka and Plymouth.

Bears will provide companionship and smiles during a child’s difficult times. Each hospital will distribute the bears throughout the year to young patients.

“What’s amazing are the stories we’ve heard over the years from medical professionals,” Daigle said. “They explained that a tiny little thing, like a teddy bear, that the child can hold and focus on, makes it easier and better for that child to do their job.”

Kira Carter-Robertson, president of Elkhart General Hospital, said it was “an honor and privilege for South Bend International Airport to think of us with this donation.”

“Hospitals can be scary, especially for our younger population,” she said. “We hope these bears will distract attention and bring a little joy and also a little comfort while they are being cared for here.”

Corporate partners and community members are joining in to support the Bears in the Air program, which has provided more than 25,000 teddy bears to children in area hospitals since the program’s inception.

Additionally, a cash donation to the Robert L. Miller Sr. Veterans Center will take place in January. {/div}