THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 9, 1995 TAG: 9510090050
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SHAWBORO LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
Sure, there are plenty of ways for teenagers to toil away summer days: Beach parties. Part-time jobs. Extra hours of sleep.
But for four young women from Currituck County, the most memorable part of the summer of '95 may be the hours they spent holed up in a church room.
There, at Providence Baptist Church in Shawboro, these students helped create 100 teddy bears that are to be given to the county's Emergency Medical Services Department this week.
The teenagers and their adult leaders hope the 10-inch high, clothed creatures will provide comfort to children needing a stitch in time.
``We were looking for a summer mission action project,'' explained Acteen adult leader Tammy Glave. ``I was talking to Donnie Beacham - he's the head of our EMS - and he said, `Have I got a project for you!'
``He told the story of how he went to a wreck call, and he gave a child a teddy bear, and he held on to that teddy bear for the entire trip.''
That story gave Glave, assistant leader Carol Miller and four Acteen members the idea to embark on the tedious task of teddy-bear making.
``I thought it was good that we could help out other people as part of our church project,'' said Gina Miller, a 14 year-old freshman at Currituck County High School.
``I thought it would be difficult because I thought we'd have to sew them all ourselves,'' said Melissa Morgan, 15.
Other church members pitched in, though, donating machines and sewing seams with fabric cut by Acteen members.
Each colorful critter is faceless and has the words ``Jesus Loves You'' written across the front. ``We decided to let the child imagine the faces themselves,'' said Glave, a secretary in the county's Planning and Inspections Department.
In past years, local Ruritan Clubs have donated store-bought bears to ride along on local ambulances where paramedics distribute the stuffed animals to distraught children. ``A lot of times, when we deal with pediatric patients, they're so frightened because of what they've been through,'' said Beacham.
``Sometimes, if you can give them something that they can hold on to, it makes a bad situation better to the child. And it makes it a whole lot easier for us as medical technicians to do more for the child.''
Sometimes young patients even come back to thank medical personnel and get them to sign their ``souvenir,'' Beacham added.
Melissa Morgan, a high school sophomore, could probably relate to the project on a more personal level than fellow Acteens Miller, Kathy Jo Morgan and Danelle Barco.
``My brother had been to the hospital a couple of months before, and I realized they really need something like that,'' Morgan said.
An Elizabeth City State University student, Barco, 19, said she was glad to be rid of the stuffed animals - but for a very good reason.
``I was just really happy to do something like this, to spread `the word' and help people when I'm not around,'' she said.
``What is really nice is to know these bears have come through young teenaged people working with a church group,'' Beacham said. ``It has a little bit more of a personal touch to it.
``It's a project that you know is going to be shared with a lot of folks. It's kind of a helping hand from the heart.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color staff photo by Drew Wilson
Providence Baptist Church youth leader Tammy Glave, lower right,
inspired an effort to make 106 teddy bears for children to be passed
out by Currituck EMS workers. Assisting, clockwise form lower left,
were Melissa Morgan, Kathy Morgan, Gina Miller and Carol Miller.
by CNB