In a hospital that prides itself on the benefits of a healing culture, it’s undoubtedly a delight when the community steps up and brings armfuls of teddy bears and gift cards for hot chocolate and cookies to surprise some of the patients at Goryeb Children’s Hospital. Is there any better way to make a child feel happy and loved?

This past winter, the Morris Catholic Ice Hockey Team (MCSE), a co-op ice hockey team with the Academy of St. Elizabeth, collected money to purchase almost two dozen Build-A-Bears and gift cards to Starbucks for patients leaving the hospital to have a “go-home” teddy and their choice of beverages and snacks at the hospital’s Starbucks café.

The “Teddies 4 Teddy” initiative was inspired by the kind spirit of the late Teddy Balkind, a 16-year-old varsity ice hockey player from St. Luke’s High School in Greenwich, Connecticut, who brought joy to his community in many ways. He succumbed to injuries sustained while on the ice during a game earlier this year.

To honor Balkind’s memory, several teams from Fairfield County, Connecticut, that play out of the Terry Conners Rink created the “Teddies 4 Teddy” project to give back to children in need. The Foundation for Morristown Medical Center and Goryeb Children’s Hospital are a local outlet for the Morris Catholic ice hockey family to show their support and love for our community and players everywhere.

To find out more ways to donate to Goryeb Children’s Hospital contact Gerri Kling at Geraldine.Kling@atlantichealth.org or 973-593-2414.