Comfort bears create smiles

With just a few dollars, one man is making hundreds of children smile.

Gary Wachler remembers being in the hospital when he was a boy, lying in the hospital bed, bored and not feeling well. But when his mother brought him some puppets, he put on a show for the other kids, making them laugh, which kept his mind off being in the hospital.

Now, years later, he's making hospitalized children smile again, this time with teddy bears.

"I started an organization that donates small teddy bears to children having surgery at the Ghesquiere Family Center for Children's Surgery at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak," says Gary."When kids come in, they're scared and out of their element. Hopefully, when they see the bears, they get a little comfort and it brings a smile to their faces."

Gary started Comfort Bears for Kids, an organization with the sole purpose of collecting donations and using 100 percent of them to buy bears."Comfort Bears for Kids is still very new and so far has only a few donors but is growing in support from family, friends, customers and surrounding merchants.  I have a lot of support from my company and family. We order the bears and put a special tag on them so the kids know who gave it to them and the parents can learn more about Comfort Bears for Kids," says Gary."Then we box them up and deliver the bears to the center. It's one of the most rewarding things I've done."

For only $5 per bear, you, too, can help Gary provide bears to children having surgery. Simply visit www.comfortbearsforkids.com  or call David Wachler& Sons at 248-540-4622. All proceeds go toward the purchase of the bears.