Foundation donates 100 teddy bears to Portneuf Medical Center

One hundred teddy bears were recently donated to the Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello.

The bears were donated by the “Forever Bear” foundation. The bears are for siblings who lose a baby brother or sister at birth.

The foundation was started in 2006 by Brett and Shannon Sanford, who had a stillborn daughter themselves. They also had a four-year-old son at the time. Their son was given a stuffed bear to comfort and help him through the loss of his baby sister. Now his parents want to continue to pass that gesture along.

Portneuf Medical Center said it was an unexpected, but pleasant surprise.

“It was something we’d never heard of and so when they called us and told us what they did, I mean it’s kind of one of those things where you immediately start to just get chills because it’s so thoughtful and it’s something that we hadn’t thought of and so thrilled to receive this kind of donation and you know hopefully these bears last us a long time,” said Todd Blackinton, director of PR and marketing for PMC.

Since the foundation was started, it has donated more than 640 bears to various hospitals. This is the first time it has donated to PMC.

Blackinton said the hospital has already used a couple of the bears and he said it’s been a simple, but great way for the hospital to offer comfort.