Non-profit children’s foundation partners with Altoona business

ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — The Because We Care Foundation (BWC) works to build a positive relationship between children and first responders.

Now, the organization is continuing to localize its efforts by partnering with a new business to get teddy bears in a cheaper and faster way.

“It brings our funds local. Before it was outsourced, and the funds from the foundation were going to a different state. Now it’s going right back into our local economy, which is amazing,” Jessica DiGennaro, Founder of the organization said.

The foundation partnered with Shannon’s Stuffy Style, which was started around 2 years ago in Altoona.

“We’ve decided to partner with them and make it easier for us to get the bears in. It only takes a few days for us. Then what we do is we stuff them for them, and then we pass them along and they make the little t-shirts for them,” Shannon Dean, Co-Founder of the company said.

The teddy bears are usually given to children whenever they experience a traumatic event.

“We can give these children a bear, and even if it takes their mind off the situation for 5 minutes, 10 minutes, that’s a great thing, to calm their nerves and ease their mind off whatever’s going on,” Sgt. Patrick Tomassetti, the Community Relations & Special Events Officer of the Altoona Police Department said.

Police officers believe that the bear doesn’t only help the child.

“When they hold that teddy bear in their arms, it gives them a little bit of comfort during the difficult time. Also, I think it helped me as well when handing out a bear, because there’s not really a lot of ways that we’re able to comfort that child. But to be able to hand them a bear and see that they’re feeling better actually helps you as well,” Amanda Brant, an Altoona Police Officer and Volunteer with BWC said.

The foundation also works to create positive relationships by hosting events like Cocoa with the Popo.

The next Cocoa with the Popo event is on March 22 at the American Legion Post 516 in Hollidaysburg from 5 – 8 p.m.