The UCCS Beth-El Student Nursing Association delivered 182 teddy bears to patients at the Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado in Memorial Hospital Central Feb. 9.<\/p>\n
The bears were built Feb. 8 at the Build-A-Bear Workshop in the Chapel Hills Mall. More than 200 volunteers assisted the BSNA members in building the costumed bears.<\/p>\n
This is the third year for the project, and according to\u00a0Courtney James, community service coordinator,\u00a0Beth-El Student Nursing Association, they hope the\u00a0bears dressed as cowboys, nurses, soldiers, and popular Disney characters\u00a0will comfort the pediatric patients during their stay.<\/p>\n
“It’s a great community service project that is tangible that the children can put their hands on and is soft and cuddly,” James said. “These bears will be at the nurses disposal to give to the child to comfort them while they’re inserting an IV, or just something to sleep with at night.”<\/p>\n
According to\u00a0Brenda McCants, volunteer services coordinator, Children’s Hospital Colorado,\u00a0the program is hit.<\/p>\n
“The student nurses add a level of patient services to Children’s Hospital, and add comfort to the children in pediatrics,” McCants said. “Our kids get so excited when these bears show up.”<\/p>\n
See Fox 21’s coverage of the bear drop-off, as well as photos below<\/p>\n