It’s a tradition that is approaching a decade across the region now, but the 2020 pandemic put its own spin on the annual Bears in the Air program from South Bend International Airport this morning.
In every other year of the nine-year campaign, a colorful array of hundreds of Teddy Bears have been placed on display as airport officials showcase the delivery for young patients at Spectrum Health Lakeland.
While nearly 300 of the colorful bears arrived on schedule at Spectrum Health Lakeland in St. Joe, this year they were boxed up for safe keeping as SBN’s CEO & Executive Director Mike Daigle made the delivery this morning, Wednesday, December 23rd. 
This year, due to COVID-19, funds were collected by the regional community of Southwest Michigan and Northwest Indiana online to purchase 1,400 new bears which were delivered to five area hospitals this week including Lakeland in St. Joe. Bears are given to patients in the emergency department, pediatric units, and to new babies born at the BirthPlace.
Tammy Jerz, MSN, Manager of Patient Care Services Obstetrics at Spectrum Health Lakeland, says, “The bears offer a form of companionship for children during their time in the hospital as well as a special gift for parents who are welcoming a new addition to their family,” and adds, “We are extremely grateful for our continued partnership with the South Bend International Airport and know these bears will put smiles on many faces.”
Daigle tells us, “It was as crucial as ever for the Bears in the Air program to continue despite the challenges of 2020,” and adds, “We are touched and grateful for the generous support our community has continued to lend to this important program. These bears bring big smiles and a sense of comfort to children during a scary time.”
The Bears in the Air program has provided over 12,500 bears to children in area hospitals in the last nine years. Additionally, a cash donation to the Robert L. Miller, Sr. Veteran’s Center will take place in January.
The photo in the storyline provided by Spectrum Health Lakeland shows, from the left: Tammy Jerz, MSN, Manager Patient Care Services Obstetrics at Spectrum Health Lakeland and SBN’s CEO and Executive Director Mike Daigle. The photo at the top is a Moody on the Market file photo from the Bears in the Air campaign delivery to Lakeland in 2018.
