Better Bears Program

Kristen Soriano told us that The Better Bears program at Piedmont Fayette Hospital provides stuffed bears to children undergoing medical procedures. The program began in 2013 and is managed by a group of 10 volunteers consisting of a coordinator, Amby, who manages the program and other volunteers who purchase material and Poly-fil, sew and stuff the bears, and then paint their faces.

“Better Bears” are given out in the preadmission testing and outpatient laboratory area to children who are having lab work, in the surgical department to children who are undergoing outpatient surgery, and in the maternity department to siblings of newborns to give them a little extra special attention. Over 800 one-foot tall bears are distributed annually at the hospital.