Bonham’s Bears gave away 400 teddy bears to organizations that help children. Based at Green Bay South, the group gives bears to Valley organizations every year. Each year, they share their stories to show who they are and how their organization uses the bears they are gifted.
Here are their stories.

484th Juvenile District Court, Honorable Judge Adela Kowalski-Garza. Juveniles processed into the Texas justice system are stripped naked, observed during their shower, and given medications for life. But they are also offered second and even third chances. After successfully finishing a boot camp, they are given a teddy bear, and they might say “for a bad boy like me?”

We want the kids to know that they are not their past. I have a free library from which I give family members books (coloring books and adult books), and they get teddy bears, too.

Ronald McDonald House Charities South Texas. Miriam Gelman said their philosophy is that a sick child is a sick family.

The first Ronald McDonald House was founded in 1974; there are now over 380 houses around the world. We recognized a need to provide families of patients with a place to be near their children, instead of sleeping on floors, eating from vending machines, skipping showers, or often driving miles back-and-forth to see their children. Last year alone in South Texas, 5,000 family members used a Ronald McDonald House or Family Room equipped with kitchens and showers and “home-like” settings for the families to normalize their experience.

For the Rio Grande Valley, our Home is located in Corpus Christi (next to Driscoll Children’s Hospital), we have Family Rooms in Harlingen and Edinburg hospitals, and a 40-foot mobile medical unit that just launched that offers dental, medical, and mental care to children beginning at six months of age, in Cameron and Willacy Counties.

Lastly, a major-motion picture will be released in select theatres at the end of March, titled “Audrey’s Children” which will illustrate the origins of the first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia.

Judge Adela Kowalski-Garza added, “In 1992, my sister stayed at a Ronald McDonald House to be near her child, and I visited her there. They helped us tremendously.”

Harlingen Police. “I’ve come to five annual teddy bear give aways. I make sure the kids know the teddy bears come from Bonham’s Bears,” said Officer Rolando Gonzales.

Loaves and Fishes. Melissa Gutierrez and Eddica Gomez shared their story. The mission of Loaves & Fishes of the Rio Grande Valley, Inc. is to improve the community by restoring broken lives. Loaves and Fishes does this by feeding the hungry; sheltering the homeless; training and placing into jobs those that desire to rejoin the community as productive members; and by providing monetary and non-monetary aid to those experiencing a life-altering event that takes away their ability to afford the necessities of life. We also provide clothing for work and personal use and hygiene kits. Teddy bears are provided for any children coming into our shelter to make them feel at home and so much more.

Harlingen Fire Dept. Richard Alvarez shared, “I’m a 27-year veteran at the fire department and I can tell you the teddy bears help 100%.”
Last year, the police had to remove a child from a home and a firefighter gave the child a teddy bear. The child held that teddy bear tightly the whole time during a long processing. The police department sent a note to the fire department, thanking us for comforting the child with a teddy bear.

I would also like to thank Ronald McDonald House for helping my daughter. She was treated in San Antonio when she was 13, 16, and 20. She wanted to pay back for the help she received and is now a social worker.

La Feria Fire Dept. Joe Garcia said besides firefighting, we give first aid classes and teach hurricane preparedness. For example, people don’t think about outdoor furniture going astray in a hurricane. The teddy bears take kids’ minds off difficult situations.

Texas Department of Family Protective Services. We have a Rainbow Room for children and a Silver Room for adults, said Cornelia Garza. Children often leave with only the clothes they’re wearing. The Rainbow Room offers showers, new clothing, new shoes and a teddy bear. We do 10,000 family visits and safety checks on the children.

In short, “Who doesn’t need a teddy bear?”

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Cameron and Willacy Counties (CACCWC). George Pardo described how it used to be when a child made an outcry. The child would tell the teacher. The teacher would get the counselor involved, then they would go to the principal. The principal would call local police, who would call child protective services. Each, and every, time the child would have to tell the story over again and we know that it was re-traumatizing the child.

That is why the Children's Advocacy Center model was formed, so the child can tell the story once with a Forensic Investigator while local law enforcement or child protective services listened to what the child was saying and not asking over and over again for the child to say what happened.

When asked how we could help, George Pardo gave a list: cars, toys, puzzles, dinosaurs, dolls, stuffed animals, Legos, coloring supplies and books, trucks, board games, Barbies, balls, Play Doh, fake food, pretend toy things, blocks, walkie talkie, robot, Squishies, slime, sensory toys, animals, figurines or action figures. The teddy bears are just part of the things that help the children.

Bonham’s Bears. While we’re based at Green Bay South, we have volunteers from other parks. Sylvia Ney of Paradise Park makes beautiful heart-shaped bibs for our teddy bears on her own time. Each bib takes about 20 minutes. Linda Greenlee and Cheryl Reitmeier are from Park Place. From Green Bay South we have Bill and Rose Luck, who respectively are our “eyes and nose” man and a sewing whiz. Rose is already talking about setting up a donation box for CACCWC and this is the third year that Pam Minerick and her friends will gather personal hygiene items for Loaves and Fishes. Tam Springer is not only a sewing whiz but cleans and tunes our machines. “Mama Bear” Rachel Carter does everything with style and joy.

On behalf of all the Bonham’s Bears volunteers, thank you Judge Adela Kowalski-Garza for your donation. It is greatly appreciated.

Story and Photos submitted by Maple Frye.

Loaves and Fishes
Loaves & Fishes Eddica Gomez, 484th Juvenile District Court Judge Adela Kowalski-Garza,
Loaves & Fishes Melissa Gutierrez. In the background is Bonham’s Bears Rachel Carter (“Mama Bear”).

Harlingen Police
Harlingen Police Office Orlando Gonzales and SGT Michael Fechner. In the background are bags of teddy bears to be given away.

Bonham Bears-Cath-Child Advocacy
Bonham’s Bears Cathy Magnuson, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Cameron and Willacy Counties George Pardo, and Ronald McDonald House Charities South Texas Miriam Cepeda-Gelman.

Harlingen Fire Department
Harlingen Fire Dept Ricardo Alvarez and Daniel Diaz.

La Feria Fire Deartment
La Feria Fire Dept. Jorge Benavides, Alejandro Becerra, and Joe Garcia.

Bonham’s Bears Volunteers
Pictured are, bottom, from left to right, Gloria Junak, Maple Frye, Rachel Carter, and Tam Springer. Middle row, left to right, Rose Luck, Cathy Magnuson, Carrie Correll, Linda Greenlee, and Pam Minerick. Top row, left to right, Bill Luck, Jil McClelland, Kris Smither, Cheryl Reitmeier, and Sylvia Ney.