2nd Annual Teddy Bear Drive October 2023

In honor of Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month, please help us donate 100 teddy bears to families experiencing loss of an infant or child at Gulf Coast HCA hospital. The Teddy Bear Drive takes place during the month of October and the goal is to reach donations for 100 teddy bears! We need your help to make it another successful year!

The Helping Hearts placement of the Junior League of Panama City serves women and families in our community who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss by providing recognition of life items and bereavement materials.

Leaving the hospital from a pregnancy loss or infant loss is devastating for mother and family. They are expecting to bring a baby home, but instead these mothers experience “empty arms.” These sweet teddy bears bring comfort and act as a physical reminder of the child that is missed so much.

Please help us support these mothers and families by donating a teddy bear from our Amazon Wishlist or click the donate button in the top right corner of our page and write “Helping Hearts” in the memo line to make a monetary contribution. Each $25 donation provides a teddy bear to a family in Bay County who is experiencing loss of a pregnancy, infant, or child.

To donate a bear in honor of a specific child or family, please provide the baby or family’s name, and an email address where the family can be reached in the notes section so that they may be notified of your donation.

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Helping Hearts serves families in our community facing baby loss by partnering with Gulf Coast Medical Center and Healthy Start Coalition. Helping Hearts provides support to families experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss with materials that will not only honor the life of the baby, but also provide a significant amount of help for families as they cope with their loss.

Each week, approximately 2-3 babies pass away at Gulf Coast Medical Center either from complications in pregnancy, stillbirth, or death due to fatal illness.

Small measures can honor the life of the baby who has passed away, while also significantly helping families cope with the loss of their baby. Because these materials are not medically necessary, they are often not secured in hospital budgets. Junior League of Panama City is in a unique position to consistently and compassionately provide these small measures, which will make a world of difference to women and families in our community.

Helping Hearts was established as a JLPC placement in loving memory of Mark Andrew Kinkade Jr., son of Mark and Danielle Kinkade.