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Happening ... in the Local Church
 Faith
Killian-Fassnacht, 10, and her mother, Roseanna Fassnacht, pose for a
photo. Faith has collected and sent 1,200 stuffed bears to soldiers in
Iraq since summer 2007. (Photo by Nick Cusack) |
By Nick Cusack
For The
Catholic Moment
LAFAYETTE — Soldiers in Iraq are receiving soft and fuzzy reminders of home thanks to a Lafayette girl and her project, “Bear Hugs to the Troops.”
Since summer 2007, Faith Killian-Fassnacht, a 10-year-old St. Boniface parishioner, has sent 1,200 bears to Iraq.
Her mother, Roseanna Fassnacht, said Faith was looking at her stuffed bear collection one day and asked if she could send them to Iraq. Faith asked if there was a way to collect more bears and the idea evolved from there.
It’s her way to reach out to the soldiers and show them people are thinking of them.
“Well, they’d probably keep them comfortable,” Faith said.
At first, Faith was worried about what the soldiers would think. But, she attached letters to each bear and some soldiers wrote back.
Some told her about their families; others thanked her and said they didn’t have a lot of stuffed animals, or blankets to keep them warm.
One postcard from a soldier said, “I would like to thank you, Faith, for your time and caring personality. It means a lot to us to receive a kind word.”
Sgt. 1st Class Justin Broadwater, with the 209th Quartermaster Company, Lafayette, said while it’s not unusual for people to donate to the troops, it’s rare for someone Faith’s age to get involved. He also said that most other donations start with family members of the troops.
Broadwater said when he was deployed in Iraq, he received items such as toothbrushes and other hygiene products. But, he said, to receive something that someone cared for, such as a stuffed animal, reminded him of home.
“It brought back memories,” he said.
Broadwater said he’d heard about Faith’s project through his church. He said he learned she needed help shipping all the stuffed animals, so he donated funds and the project grew.
Broadwater also nominated Faith for an award, and she received a coin of excellence from Maj. Gen. Robert Pollmann.
Faith said she asked businesses for permission to set up collection centers. She and her mother placed “bear drops” in several locations.
“Since she’s started, there has not been a loss of bears,” Fassnacht said. Some people have left garbage bags full of stuffed animals.
Faith also wrote letters to companies asking for donations. Some people predicted that big organizations would not donate, Fassnacht said, but they do.
“There isn’t anybody saying no,” Fassnacht said.
Bears awaiting shipment are stored in the family’s garage. Faith’s uncle is working on a Web site, to bring in even more bears.
“I might have to set my car outside; there might not be enough room in the garage,” she said. Faith hopes to collect 500 more bears by Christmas.
Faith asks the Boys and Girls Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Christian children’s groups to help her write letters to the soldiers. They are attached to the bears with ribbons.
To help the children write better letters, Faith said she also set up “milk and cookie” writing workshops.
At the workshops, the kids are assisted by members of Purdue’s football team, the Purdue Twirlers and others.
Businesses also send items, such as toothbrushes and teabags, that are attached to the bears. St. Boniface Church in Lafayette supplied Miraculous Medals.
This isn’t the first time Faith has reached out when she saw a need.
When she was 4, Faith said she saw firefighters collecting money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association boot drive.
Faith said she thought the firefighters looked hot and tired, so she asked her mom to take her to the grocery store to get them some watermelon and root beer. She said she’s been doing it ever since.
Faith said she comes up with the ideas and her mom helps.
“You can either help children or let their dreams crash and burn,” Fassnacht said. “Listen to what these little kids are saying.”