More than 40,000 teddy bears will be deployed on May 15 as part of the fourth annual Stuffed With HugsTM, a charitable program of Build-A-Bear Workshop. Families from coast to coast are invited to visit stores and make bears that will be given to children of United States military personnel serving away from home, providing these children with a special friend that is an international symbol of comfort and care. Code-named Operation Stuffed With Hugs, the event provides children the opportunity to help other children while learning about and celebrating Armed Forces Day. Former Army Specialist and Iraqi POW Shoshana Johnson will serve as national spokesperson and host of the day. Build-A-Bear Workshop has also partnered with the USO (United Service Organizations) to help deliver bears to children whose parents are serving in the military. The teddy bears will be donated domestically and internationally.
"Operation Stuffed With Hugs allows kids to express their patriotism while helping others going through difficult times," said Johnson, a mother who knows first hand the impact that serving in the military can have on children. "As a former soldier and a mother, I could not be more proud to be part of such a special program."
On May 15, the first 200 people at each of the more than 150 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores will be invited to make a bear for free that will be donated to children of military personnel on active duty. Participants will also be able to meet Build-A-Bear Workshop mascot Bearemy® as well as sign a special Operation Stuffed With Hugs card that will be delivered to personnel at military bases throughout the United States and overseas. Additionally, each attendee will be given a $3 off a $15 purchase Build-A-Bear Workshop® coupon for their participation.
"Stuffed with Hugs is an example of our continued commitment to children," said Maxine Clark, Chief Executive Bear of Build-a-Bear Workshop®. "This year, by aligning with Armed Forces Day, we are able to bring the joy of a teddy bear to a special group often overlooked - the families of our military personnel."
Additionally, in honor of Operation Stuffed With Hugs, mayors in cities across the country will proclaim May 15 "Operation Stuffed With Hugs Day" to recognize the children. Currently, 613,400 members of the military on active duty have children. 1,170,390 children under the age of 18 have parents on active duty in the military. Of that, more than 50 percent are under the age of seven years old.
To learn about Operation Stuffed With Hugs activities or to find a store in your area, visit www.buildabear.com
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Produced for Build-A-Bear Workshop
