A beary heartwarming gift arrives in time for Christmas 

Jasper and Kingsley are two fuzzy friends helping to ring in the Christmas spirit at St. Joseph’s Health Care London. They arrived earlier this month as part of a generous donation of 1,300 plush teddy bears from Calendar Club through its teddy bear donation program. The bears will be distributed to hundreds of patients and residents during the holiday season, spreading good tidings across St. Joseph’s care-giving sites.

St. Joseph’s serves a diverse patient population which includes both pediatric and elderly patients. Surprisingly, the greatest demand for the teddy bears came from areas of care that serve elderly populations, demonstrating that the teddy bears are more than just plush toys for kids. A cute and cuddly bear can bring a sense of calm to residents with cognitive decline.

"It makes our team feel very special to do something for the people in hospital," says Brad Hubbard, the store operator of three Calendar Club locations. "It's important to give back and we are really grateful to our customers for the teddy bear donations."

Several program and care areas will be distributing the teddies over the next few months. Urgent Care Centre will be giving them to younger patients while each resident of Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care will receive a teddy bear on Christmas Day. The gifts are expected to be a big hit according to Katherine Plested, a therapeutic recreation specialist at Mount Hope.

“Teddy bears give our residents so many benefits, including the ability to share their love, a feeling of comfort and safety, a chance to reminisce about their own collections and now having a new teddy of their own. And some will even share their new teddy with their great grandchildren who come to visit.”

A beary special thanks to Calendar Club for this heartwarming gift, and to Doug Coleman Trucking for shuttling the precious cargo across the city.

Reactions from across St. Joseph’s

“Jasper and Kingsley will bring comfort to some of our patients as they manage their end of life journey and also to the children that visit their loved ones on the unit. Hospitals can be scary places for young people so having a bear to hold on to will help in comforting them in the moment but will also provide a lasting memory for years to come. Bears aren’t just for kids. We often find that our patients want a stuffed animal to snuggle up with in bed. These bears will be well loved by many.” 
– Palliative Care Unit

“We are so grateful for the opportunity to distribute teddy bears to our patients this Christmas. To individuals with dementia, holding onto and hugging a soft and cozy Teddy Bear can provide immediate feelings of comfort and calm.” 
– Geriatric Psychiatry

“What a wonderful surprise! It was so thoughtful of you to remember our young patients at St. Joseph’s. At the St. Joseph’s Family Medical and Dental Centre, we provide care to many, many children on a daily basis. Some children come to us to receive medical care, some dental care, but one thing is certain – whether they are getting a shot or pulling a tooth our little patients will find their visit was a little less painful after they put their arms around their new fuzzy friend.”
– Family Medical & Dental Centre

“We would like to express our gratitude for the generous donation of the Jasper and Kingsley bears. The bears will provide a source of comfort for our pediatric population during their journey within urgent care and beyond. There is great value to having those items that assist in comforting the children during stressful procedures and assessments and the team will be thrilled to have this resource.”
– Urgent Care Centre

“One of the toughest areas in our work, here at the program, is when a pediatric patient comes to us for care. As you can imagine, the trauma they have endured is significant and they are often coming to us worried and afraid. Your donation will allow for these children to have a comfort and bring a smile to their face during a very difficult time. We honestly cannot thank you enough!” 
– Regional Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Treatment Program

“Teddy bears give our residents so many benefits, including the ability to share their love, a feeling of comfort and safety, a chance to reminisce about their own collections and now having a new teddy of their own. And some will even share their new teddy with their great grandchildren who come to visit.”
 – Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care