Thoughtful 3rd Grader Shows She Cares with Bears

Posted on June 25, 2012

Jessica'sWeCareBearProjectwasahugesuccess!

by KATHY LOY

Almost all kids love stuffed animals! When they’re small, children get attached to a teddy bear or bunny because it’s soft, feels good and provides comfort. An older child might love a stuffed dog because it can “play” at any time of the day or just because it smells good.

As much as kids love them however, it’s easy for a pile of stuffed toys to grow so large that some are ignored. One entrepreneurial third grader at Monterey Ridge Elementary School came up with a clever solution to stuffed-toy-overload. Jessica Hua Liang Carscadden explains, “I came up with this project when cleaning my room. I had a lot of stuffed animals that I didn’t play with anymore and I thought someone else would like them. My great uncle was a fireman so I decided to take my bears to the fire station and Sherriff’s stations so that they can give them to kids who they meet who may be scared or injured. “

“I had a lot of stuffed animals that I didn’t play with anymore and I thought someone else would like them.” ~ Jessica Hua Liang Carscadden

Jessica spoke with school principal, Dr. Newman, who encouraged her idea and suggested she ask the student council to get involved. Jessica, along with Monterey Ridge students and local Girl Scout troops, collected roughly 600 stuffed toys for donation.

“I will deliver the donations to the local fire stations starting on Monday, June 11 and deliver more to the Sheriff’s stations in July,” said Jessica. “If my Mommy lets me do it again, I would like to do it every year.” The police and firemen will keep the toys in their cars and trucks to give to children they meet on “calls” who might be scared, injured, lost or just need a “huggle” (a word Jessica uses to describe a combination hug and snuggle, says mom, Kathleen).

Jessica’s giving spirit is certainly home-grown. She says her mother works to help children in China and her father works for a company, Cymer, which helps the community – so she thought she could too. “I love to play handball at recess and I like being able to help other kids,” said Jessica.