Being a patient in a hospital isn’t fun for anyone, especially children. But, thanks to Karen Belt and her family there are a few more kids smiling around the Sherman Health facilities.

For a few months, Karen and her family have been giving away “Hug’ems,” their own brand of care bears.  We recently talked to Karen and learned all about the new teddy bear program at Sherman’s Immediate Care Centers.

Sherman Health Blog: Who originally came up with this idea? How did the idea form?
Karen Belt: Last fall, at a volunteer luncheon Sharon Jakle mentioned to me that she’d like to get a teddy bear program going and I said I can sew teddy bears and came home and did just that.

SHB: How long has the Hug’ems program been in existence?
KB: The first 10 bears were delivered to Algonquin Immediate Care Center late last November but didn’t officially kick off until the early part of this year.

SHB: Does every pediatric patient get a teddy bear or are they only handed out in special occasions?
KB: The bears are for reserved for kids with more serious health issues.

SHB: Are children generally pretty happy to have a new stuffed friend by their side?
KB: According to the nursing staff at Algonquin, the kids and the parents are very happy to have warm diversion…the bears are very huggable!

SHB: I understand your mom stuffs the bears. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
KB: My Mom, who will be 92 this fall, has helped me from the beginning by stuffing the bears. And, even though she is temporarily at Sherman West Court, I have even taken some bears over there for her to stuff. But it’s been a family project as well. Some of the fabric I have came from a stash my sister had, and she passed away over 11 years ago. My youngest sister has also helped stuff a few bears but more recently donated enough polyfill to stuff well over 30 bears.

SHB: Who else stuffs the bears on a regular basis? Any groups in the area?
KB: So far, I and my family are the only bear makers but we certainly could use help. We now have bears at the Immediate Care Centers in South Elgin and would like to have them at all Sherman facilities. Especially with warmer weather it is conceivable there will be more traffic at the immediate care centers and therefore the greater need for more bears.

SHB: Are the bears sold at the gift shop, or are they given exclusively to pediatric patients?
KB: I have taken a couple of bears into the gift shop but have been concentrating on the immediate care centers. Though I have some special fabric for gift shop bears (seasonal fabric). To date, I have made 50 bears and more are on the cutting board.

If you would like to lend your time to stuff teddy bears for children at Sherman, contact Karen by email here.