MARIETTA - The Memorial Health System's Teddy Bear Fund Week will be Sunday through Saturday.
Funds are raised during the week to provide a stuffed animal to every child age 6 months to 12 when admitted to either Marietta Memorial or Selby General hospitals.
More than 1,200 stuffed animals are distributed each year, said Anna Vukovic, Marietta area teddy bear coordinator.
"Stuffed animals are used by doctors and nurses as a tool to help demonstrate unfamiliar hospital procedures to children. Casts, IVs and bandages are a common sight on the newly acquired 'friends' in the arms of our young patients on their way to surgery, lab and X-ray," Vukovic said.
Teddy Bear Week is supported by local fast-food restaurants.
On Monday, Bar-B-Cutie, 113 Pike St., will donate 10 percent of the day's receipts, to the fund. On Tuesday, all Marietta McDonald's will donate a portion from each medium fries purchased.
Teddy Bear Jugs also will be available in local businesses to donate spare change. Wendy's Restaurants will match the amount collected at its stores.
Additional donations and checks can be wrriten to and sent to the Marietta Area Teddy Bear Fund, P.O. Box 225, Marietta, OH 45750.
For more information or how a club or organization can help, call Vukovic at Marietta Memorial Hospital, at (740) 374-1779.
