Bears for Hearts

Amanda Slateraslater123@knights.ucf.edu

04/23/2010EEX 4070

Summary This project was created to help children

and families of children with disabilities and illnesses put a smile on their face during their stay at the Ronald McDonald house.

St. Petersburg Ronald McDonald House

Collected over 500 bears to donate to the Ronald McDonald House

My sister Courtney and the Ronald McDonald Manger Mel.

The R. M. House Playroom where the bears are placed.

I am a Junior at the University of Central Florida. I am majoring in Elementary Education, and Technical Education and

Industry Training. My academic goal is to attain a Master’s in Educational Leadership. I love to volunteer and help in the community for any cause, especially

helping children. My experience with project was exceptional to any other volunteer work

I have done because I was involved in it with my sister and my mom. Our goal was to hand out a bear to each child staying in the house, and we accomplished it. We raised over 500 bears for the house, and were able to place them in various parts including the playroom. We hope that these bears will provide comfort and happiness for the children and families that must reside in the Ronald McDonald house due to disabilities and illnesses.

About Me

Bears for Hearts was a wish my younger sister had a few years ago brought to real life through the help of family, close friends, and the community. My mom, my sister and I got together and raised awareness for Shands Hospital in Gainesville Children’s Ward. We raised about 200+ bears for the children to pick from and keep. Having such great success, we continued it this year at the Ronald McDonald House, where we knew the Manager Mel and she helped us raise more than 500+ bears this time. This project was really important to us because we want to bring smiles and happiness to children and families who are going through hard times. Something as simple as “bear hug” can make a child feel special. The Ronald McDonald House is an organization that houses families with children who are hospitalized due to a disability or illness. This house is for struggling families and it allows them to have a place to sleep and shower for the time being. The remaining bears were distributed all over the house, including the playroom.

We served the Ronald McDonald House of St. Petersburg which houses families and children with disabilities and illnesses that need to receive treatment at All Children’s Hospital. Some of the children we interacted with had neurological disorders, liver disorders, and growth and development disorders. They aged from infants to 10 years old. We raised over 500 bears and handed out personally about 30 to the children staying at the House. The rest of the bears would be distributed among the house, the rooms, and the playroom and to future incoming families.

Reflection

Since this is the second time we have done this drive, we plan to do it again. This time we plan to distribute them among children who have been displaced and neglected. We will use the help of my grandmother and aunt who have actively served as foster parents for over 25 years to children with disabilities and who are emotionally disturbed. These experiences of interacting with families and children who have disabilities and illnesses help me be a patient and understanding person. It helps me remember what is important in life. Teaching students’ who have medical disorders are the same as everyone else in this world and deserve to be treated the same as everyone else. Even children who are not believed to live past their childhood deserve a chance to give it their all with the right support and positive enforcements.