Student’s birthday wish for a ‘Teddy Bear Drive’ benefits emergency response and community-focused agencies

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MCRS Chief Curt Curter (L) Aaron and MCRS Member Michael Ruch

BENTON – One mom’s journey to help teach her son about giving back, evolved into a community project that in time, will assist nearly 400 children in the local area.
Anica Smith’s son Aaron was approaching his 10th birthday and the two saw an opportunity to celebrate in a little different way. In discussing options and ideas for possible projects, Aaron recalled a personal incident from which he drew inspiration.

Two years ago, he had been hospitalized with appendicitis. Aaron admits it was a scary time for him, a time where he found comfort in the smallest of gestures – a teddy bear that had been given to him in the emergency room seemed to calm all fears.aaron

Ultimately, he decided it was that sense of peace he wanted to try to share with other children – and so the idea of starting a teddy bear drive was born. “I wanted to be able to help kinds in bad situations whether it be talking to the police or anything else,” he said of the project.

The Smiths spoke with Aaron’s School Principal who was very supportive of the idea. From there, Melissa Elrod with Benton’s Family Resource Center became involved and helped to organize drop off locations so students school-wide could participate.

Boxes were placed in classrooms and children throughout the school grew excited about the notion of being able to help other children. Aaron said the boxes filled quickly and notes the excitement in seeing them emptied and filled time and time again.

All together, the drive brought in a total of 380 stuffed animals which were distributed to agencies including the Marshall County Rescue Squad, MC Ambulance Service, MC Hospital, American Red Cross, Benton Fire Department, Build-a-Bed project and Bags of Love.

On Sunday, Aaron was able to travel to one of the receiving agencies where he met with members of the Marshall County Rescue Squad, touring the base and learning first-hand about how the animals he helped to get donated, will be used.

Marshall County Rescue Squad Chief Curt Curtner, along with Squad Members Michael Ruch and Caleb Curtner, who also serves as a Benton Police Officer, met with Aaron thanking him for taking on this project.

“We often see children who are in bad situations,” Officer Curtner told Aaron of his work at the Benton Police Department. He shared with Aaron that simply having a teddy bear or a stuffed animal to give a child helps to ease fears and concerns and assists in building the bridge between law enforcement and families in crisis situations.

Ruch led Aaron on a guided tour of some of the Squad’s most utilized and depended upon equipment, including the 24-foot Towish-equipped search and rescue vessel.

After his tour and enjoying some one on one time with Squad members, Aaron was presented with a ball cap and Rescue Squad shirt in appreciation of his efforts.

Anica, Aaron and MCRS Chief Curt Curtner
Anica, Aaron and MCRS Chief Curt Curtner

Anica Smith said of her son’s accomplishment in the project, “Without the school and community backing his teddy bear drive, this would not have happened. It is so wonderful to see how everyone embraced this idea and helped Aaron make it a success.”

Smith says Aaron hopes to do this annually and would like to get more schools involved next time around.