Day dosed with hugs, not drugs

Nelson Elementary K-Kids proudly hoist part of their collection of stuffed animals bound for hospitalized children in their community.

A couple of K-Kids playfully pose behind a mound of teddy bears.

Pssst! Want to know the secret to making kids smile? Ask the K-Kids club at Nelson Elementary School in Dover, Florida. During the school’s recent celebration of “Red Ribbon Week,” the club took part in “Hugs, not Drugs Day,” by collecting teddy bears and other stuffed animals for young patients at the Shriner’s Hospital.

“We collected more than 350 stuffed animals for them,” say club members Nicole Anne Deguzman and Elizabeth Hart. “These animals will be given to the patients who are having surgery or need other kinds of help. Some of the kids can even take the bears to the ‘Bear Hospital,’ to ‘operate’ on them so they know what will happen to them and not get scared.”

This is the third year the K-Kids club has conducted the teddy bear drive—and it won’t be the last.

“We are very proud of the students at Nelson Elementary who gave a bear,” Nicole and Elizabeth say. “We can’t wait to do this again next year.”