MMC-BD NEWS

The Partners of Beaver Dam Community Hospital and their contributions to the community have been recognized once again with a Partners of WHA WAVE (Wisconsin Awards for Volunteer Excellence) Award.

The Partners received their Community Service Program recognition on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at the Partners of WHA Annual Convention at the Red Lion Hotel Paper Valley in Appleton, Wis. They were honored for their Emergency Department program that supplies clothes to those in need and handmade teddy bears to children in need of comfort.

The program was created in 2002 with an initial budget of $300. This year, that budget is $3,500 and is funded through the Partners’ ongoing fundraising efforts. Four times a year, Partners board members purchase clothing based on recommendations made by emergency department staff.

The Partners themselves hand-sew approximately 900 bears each year to comfort children in the emergency department and those coming out of surgery. “The bears the Partners provide our pediatric patients not only bring smiles to their faces when they wake, but a comforting warmth to aid in their healing,” said Melody Trentham, BDCH Director of Surgery.

In addition to the countless hours of volunteer service over the past 17 years, the Bear Program is supported by individuals and community groups that donate materials for the construction of the bears. Special thanks goes out to Warren and Kristin Retzlaff, who continue to donate the ribbon and stuffing, and to Bear Committee members Faith Smith, Sandy Kaul, Lois Babros, Elinor Czarnecki, Shirley Johnson, Sue Hilbert, Jermaine Sabourin, Gail Hope Henschel and Bernie Jeffries, who meet each month to make the bears.

To learn more about the Partners of BDCH, visit www.bdch.com/bdch-partners.