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Happening ... in the Local Church
 Staff
Sgt. Daniel Rodriguez and Bart Lomont look at a display about “Bear Hugs
to the Troops” with the project’s founder, 11-year-old Faith Killian-Fassnacht.
(Photo by Kevin Cullen) |
By Kevin Cullen
The
Catholic Moment
LAFAYETTE — Daniel Rodriguez, a staff sergeant in the Marine Corps, spent eight months in Iraq in 2006-2007. He knows how much it means to receive a thoughtful gift from someone back home.
“We’re all human,” he said. “When you’re overseas and someone sends you something to recognize the efforts put forth, it makes you feel good inside.”
Rodriguez, now a Marine Corps recruiter, was among approximately 40 people who turned out at a local nursing home to mark the second anniversary of the “Bears Hugs to the Troops” project and its founder, 11-year-old Faith Killian-Fassnacht.
Since August 2007, Faith has sent approximately 3,500 donated teddy bears, each with a personal letter, to military personnel serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany. Other plush animals have been donated to the Christian Children Network and the Mother Teresa Orphanage for needy kids overseas.
Faith, a member of St. Boniface Church in Lafayette, has a teddy bear collection herself. Everybody likes teddy bears, she said, so she wanted to share the comfort they have brought her with U.S. troops serving overseas.
“I want them to know that we still think about them and all that they are doing,” she said.
Faith said she loves “getting notes back from the soldiers, and being able to meet the soldiers.” She has many such notes. Some troops even have sent her photos of themselves with their new teddy bears.
She is assisted by her mother, Rosanna, and other adults and groups.
The project has been honored by the military, elected officials, a local school corporation … even the Indiana Pacers. Faith received a “Distinguished Indiana Hoosier Award” from Gov. Mitch Daniels. At the two-year anniversary party held at St. Anthony Health Care on Aug. 5, she received a “Partner in Progress Award” from Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, presented by her policy director, Bart Lomont.
She earlier received a certificate of recognition from Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski. At the gathering, he called Bear Hugs to the Troops “a very important program. Those bears help bring a little bit of home to our troops … when you’re deployed overseas, a little gift from home means a lot. It can bring comfort in tough times.”
Five drop-off locations have been set up for people wanting to donate bears.
Groups of children are invited to enjoy milk and cookies together, and they write the letters that accompany each bear. Purdue University football players and twirlers, plus the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Tippecanoe County, serve as mentors.
Sometimes, the bears are sent out with other donated gifts, such as toothbrushes, disposable cameras or tea bags.
Faith speaks to groups about her program, and solicits donations to help pay shipping — approximately $400 per shipment.
“It puts a smile on your face to know that a young individual is behind this,” said Staff Sgt. Rodriguez, who wore his medals and Marine Corps “dress blues.” “I think she has gone a step above and beyond for a young lady her age. It’s outstanding.”