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CAN-DO TEDDY BEAR PROGRAM
“I remember crying when I got my first Teddy Bear for Christmas,” says Amy Ralston. “I think I was 12 or 13. I named my bear ‘Jenny’ and she went with me everywhere – on trips, camping and to bed. I didn’t have a sibling to play with, so I had a very active imagination. Jenny and I would talk, play and I remember crying into her brown fur on many occasions. She made me feel loved and safe, especially at night when I was all alone. I want children of incarcerated parents to receive something that comes directly from their mom or dad – except for the magic of a little fairy – the CAN-DO fairy.” HOW IT WORKS CAN-DO will coordinate with the head of each Children’s Center inside a prison, or in some cases the Warden or Chaplain, to receive permission to send a shipment of Teddy Bears that will be used for special occasions, such as the annual Children’s day, or Christmas week visitation. With the permission of the institution, the mother or father will personally hand the Teddy Bear to their child at the end of a visit. “I personally witnessed the bone chilling screams that came from children at the end of visitation. They’d cling to their mothers and defy anyone who tried to pull them apart. It was awful to witness,” said Amy. “That’s why the CAN-DO Teddy is critical. It’s something the child can focus on and hold during that trauma of separation. And, the parent can be creative – they can name the bear, tell the child to talk to the bear whenever they need to talk to the parent…whatever will help ease this difficult transition.” *CAN-DO will also sponsor children who have lost both parents to incarceration at Christmas time and fulfill a Santa wish list.
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Copyright © 2010, CAN-DO Clemency. |
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The CAN-DO Teddy Bear program helps incarcerated mothers who want to reach out to their children in a special way. Children often bear the worst hardship of all – trying to comprehend why a mother or father has left them – and in some cases both. * Most children are too young to understand the concept of prison – it is inconceivable to them, as it should be. That’s why the CAN-DO Teddy Bear is important!