Sending comfort across the seas, Lopez kids give from their hearts

Big hugs and even bigger hearts.

Lopez Island elementary students are unselfishly giving from their hearts as they gather their own prized stuffed animals, give them a final hug and prepare to send them across the world. These loved, cherished and cuddled teddy bears will soon make their way into the arms of children left homeless, and alone, by the tsunamis.

The student-named “Send A Hug” project is the youngsters’ way of providing relief to the orphaned children of South and Southeast Asia. Some might feel powerless in the shadow of such enormous loss, but these students have found a way to make a difference.

“When my dad leaves (on work trips), I feel sad, so I go to bed and cuddle with my Sponge Bob,” said 10-year-old Alexa Ogden. She, along with her classmates, want to pass along the comfort they get from their stuffed animals to those who have a greater need.

“Whenever I’m sad, I go and talk to my stuffed animal,” added 10-year-old Breton Carter. “I don’t know why but it helps me feel better.”

“Not having anybody would be absolutely terrible,” said 10-year-old Brooke Schober, who said that, despite sometimes getting mad at her parents, she couldn’t imagine life without them; a reality now faced by thousands of children who lost their parents in the tsunamis.

“When you get upset, usually your parents are there to help you,” 10 -year-old Vilina Sandburn-Bill said. “They don’t have that.”

As the world scrambles to send food, water, money and medical supplies, the Lopez elementary students have extended something to the human spirit, tangible comfort. They’re giving up the stuffed animals that have been at their side for years, that they sleep with each night, the ones that silently listen to their secrets and cuddle them when they are sad and lonely.

The student’s have empathy in spades, and are more than willing to part with their prized possessions in hopes that they might ease the suffering of a child abruptly left to face the world alone. “Their need is greater than mine,” Vilina said.

“They feel a responsibility,” said teacher Nancy Carson. “They feel a lot of empathy for kids that don’t have it as good as they do.”

In its simplest and most pure form, the students want to make the children in the tsunami-ravished towns and villages feel better and, just perhaps, bring a smile to their faces. “Everyone deserves to smile, even after something bad has happened,” said Vilina.

“It might make them smile and feel happy,” 11-year-old Tommy Kramer said of the hundreds of stuffed animals the students will be giving up.

Other than extending a part of their hearts to the grief-stricken children in South and Southeast Asia, these kids feel a sense of responsibility to the world community. “They’re part of our world, and we need to help the world,” said nine-year-old Clara Ewert.

“If we do something good for them, we’re always going to have a friend,” said Vilina. “They’ll know we’re here for them.”

“We need to let them know there’s someone out there who cares for them,” said Breton.

“Share with the world and the world shares with you,” concurred 11-year-old Tak Peralta.

On Jan. 28, the kids will give each of the stuffed animals a final hug, then pack them up and hand them over to a relief organization that has yet to be determined. “Every time they hug their animal, they’ll be getting a hug from across the world,” said Breton.

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