Teddy Bear Drop shows difference a single Airman can make

  • Published
  • By Nick Stubbs
  • Thunderbolt Editor
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  People ask, "What difference can an ordinary Airman make?" The answer is, "A lot," said Chief Master Sgt. Craig Hall, 6th Mission Support Group.

His assessment was proven recently by Airman 1st Class Derek Furlong, a 6th Maintenance Squadron journeyman, who in a regular meeting for dorm residents brought up the idea of doing something special for the holidays for sick children at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg. It resulted in the first All Children's Hospital Teddy Bear Drop.

The idea was simple: Collect donations of teddy bears and money to buy bears and support the initiative to brighten the day for children confined to the hospital during the holidays.

"I wanted to do something worthwhile and that could carry on," said Airman Furlong. "It seemed like a good thing to do."

That it was, said Chief Hall.

"When you see a young Airman step up and propose and organize something like this, it tells you a lot about their character, and it tells us just how much difference (our youngest servicemembers) can make; I can't say enough."

Airman Furlong said the idea took off from the time it was suggested Dec. 9. Overwhelming support came in from volunteers, their friends and family members who wanted to help. So many offers to help came in, some had to be turned away, he said, as All Children's has a cap of 15 volunteers for such events. More than $1,000 was raised for the project.

Helping coordinate with local retailers participating was Senior Airman Tawny Uemera Oquendo and Tech. Sgt. Cortnie Woods.

The bear drop was held Dec. 17, and it was a hit for the kids at the hospital, said Airman Furlong, adding that the reward for volunteers was equally satisfying.

"We were all overcome with joy to see how happy the teddy bears made the children," he said.

The plan is to repeat the event next year, making the teddy bear drop a MacDill holiday tradition.

"I am excited to see what we can do next year with more time to coordinate," said Airman Furlong.