Bear Cub Club Makes Hospital Stays Easier

The thought of spending the night in a hospital is a scary one for many adults. Imagine being a child faced with the same situation. Thanks to a generous donation of more than 250 Build-A-Bears from the 2008 South Carolina Future Business Leaders of America convention, Shriners Hospitals for Children — Greenville opened a Bear Cub Club where children can choose a new buddy to help them through their stay.

When a child comes to the hospital for a pre-admission appointment, they look through a book and choose the bear with an outfit they like. On the day of their surgery or admission, the child is welcomed to their room by their specially selected cuddly companion dressed in the outfit they chose, complete with an authentic Build-A-Bear birth certificate. If the child requires additional hospital stays, they are able to choose a new outfit to go with their already adopted bear.

The Bear Cub Club has been a huge success. The children greet their new friends with big bear hugs. Here are just a few of the children's comments about the club:

“Thank you very much for my bear!  She made me feel much better when I got in my room. I will love her forever and always remember the nice people at Shriners.”

“Thank you so much for my Build-A-Bear. I chose the cheerleader one because it is just like my cheerleader uniform that I hope to be able to use this coming school year.”

“Thank you for my bear!  I love him so much! He’s already mastered his orange [karate] belt!  Thanks again!”

The hospital’s goal is to sustain and increase the club to include the more than 1,400 children seen on an outpatient basis each year. The Bear Cub Club is a wonderful way to send every child the message that Shriners Hospitals is where they are not only cared for, but loved as well.