Ten-year-old's compassion leads to reaching out to children!
April 27th, 2011 will forever be remembered in history as the worst tornado day in Alabama. It is the day when F3, F4 and F5 tornadoes ransacked and pulverized everything in their tracks, leaving lives shattered: homes destroyed, loved ones dead, hurt, or missing.
The media and witnesses began showing footage and spoke of what they saw and experienced. Word quickly spread about the tornado's path: 5.9 miles long and a mile wide in Tuscaloosa alone. During a press conference Tuscaloosa's Mayor Walt Maddox summed up the aftermath as "utter destruction."
First responders and citizens from far and wide began search and rescue, lending a hand to anyone in need. Businesses and churches banded together to help, since the victims' needs are great and it will take months, possible years to recover from the devastation.
The more news footage one young man saw made him realize just how many kids were sad. At home in Cottondale, Alabama with his mom, William searched his house for any stuffed animal he could find: a total of 46 stuffed teddy bears located. He told his mom his idea. "Mom, there are so many children hurting. God kept us safe and I want to help children by giving away my stuffed animals..."Cause you know the tornado probably took all their toys away." He began brain-storming about what to call his project. And OPERATION TEDDY BEAR was born!
The media and witnesses began showing footage and spoke of what they saw and experienced. Word quickly spread about the tornado's path: 5.9 miles long and a mile wide in Tuscaloosa alone. During a press conference Tuscaloosa's Mayor Walt Maddox summed up the aftermath as "utter destruction."
First responders and citizens from far and wide began search and rescue, lending a hand to anyone in need. Businesses and churches banded together to help, since the victims' needs are great and it will take months, possible years to recover from the devastation.
The more news footage one young man saw made him realize just how many kids were sad. At home in Cottondale, Alabama with his mom, William searched his house for any stuffed animal he could find: a total of 46 stuffed teddy bears located. He told his mom his idea. "Mom, there are so many children hurting. God kept us safe and I want to help children by giving away my stuffed animals..."Cause you know the tornado probably took all their toys away." He began brain-storming about what to call his project. And OPERATION TEDDY BEAR was born!
Operation Teddy Bear Continues....
Creighton's home was one of 4 in her neighborhood left standing on April 27, 2011. A large pile of debris was stacked over 8 feet high on her street. She looked through our bin of stuffed animals and picked out several to share with her friends.
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Facebook: Operation Teddy Bear-Tuscaloosa
TWITTER: @opteddybearTusc
New email address:operationteddybeartuscaloosa@comcast.net
2014 Brochure in the works.
Operation Teddy Bear presents: "If This Were Your Home...." Filmed on location in Alberta City, AL. The video was made to spread awareness for the tornado aftermath.
Puppet Skit on Tornado Safety-filmed in Cedar Crest. Actual photo stills of tornado damage were taken by William. Background Music-Amazing Grace (Bagpipes). Turn volume low on speakers.
KNOW OF A CHILD WHO COULD BENEFIT FROM A STUFFED ANIMAL: Use our contact form, be sure to give us a contact phone number. Turn around time within 24 hours.
SHARE YOUR STORY: If you are a recipient of a stuffed animal, we'd like to know! Use the Story Form (located under "more..." link) and include a daytime phone number. With your permission, your story and photograph (optional) could be chosen for our upcoming flyer/shown on our website.
@2012, Annie Lawson.