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Bears for Kids program gets 20 stuffed animals
Naval Base Guam’s Fire Department started its Bears for Kids program with the receipt of 20 stuffed animals recently. Photos shows members of the fire department clutching teddy bears posing with Madison Spence, 8-year-old daughter of an active duty Coast Guard member, who helped jump-start the program. (Contributed Photo)
SANTA RITA, Guam—Naval Base Guam’s Fire Department received 20 stuffed animals to begin their Bears for Kids program.
The stuffed animals were donated as a gift to comfort children during ambulance transport to the hospital. Madison Spence, 8-year-old daughter of an active duty Coast Guard member stationed in Guam donated the stuffed animals. For her birthday, she asked her family and friends for stuffed animals. Her donation is a direct result of her birthday wish.
Madison was first exposed to the Bears for Kids concept during a school field trip to the local fire department when her family lived in Sitka, Alaska. While talking with the EMTs in Sitka, she learned that people donated stuffed animals and the EMT’s would give them to children who were sick or injured and rode the ambulance. This significantly affected Madison; she had not experienced riding an ambulance but understood how scary that would be for her.
While on a recent trip with her Girl Scout troop, Madison asked the Naval Base Guam Fire Department about their Bears for Kids program. After learning that the fire department did not have a Bears for Kids program, she asked her parents for permission to approach the fire department about the possibility of starting such a program on Guam. Madison asked and the fire department graciously agreed to oblige her request.
Madison is the daughter of Chief Warrant Officer David Spence and Mrs. Tami Spence. CWO Spence is assigned to U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam as the unit’s Engineering Officer. (PR)
