Operation Teddy Bear - It's all about the kids

  • Published
  • By Technical Sgt. Mary Beth Bemis
  • 349th Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif --  Ask the question, "What is Operation Teddy Bear?" and you will be hard-pressed to find a member of Team Travis that can't tell you. Ask, "How did Operation Teddy Bear begin, and how long has it been going?" and the answers become a little fuzzy. No pun intended, but I was curious to find out a little more about this fabulous community outreach program that is embraced by us here at Travis Air Force Base.

Operation Teddy Bear was started over twenty years ago by civilian employees of the 349th Wing mail room, Mr. Bill Ronders and Mr. Cipriano Villanueva who is better know as 'Mr. V.' They collected teddy bears and took them to Crescent Elementary School to hand out to a class of approximately 20 children. In 1999, the 349th AMW Top Three assumed responsibility for the program. This year Operation Teddy Bear will distribute approximately 900 Teddy bears to eight elementary schools, shelters and hospitals.

"We have a committee of three that works on this all year," said Operation Teddy Bear committee coordinator Senior Master Sgt. Mike Lattanzi, 945th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "But we have a large group of volunteers that jump in and help us with the collection of goodies and distribution in November and December."

A program as successful as this just doesn't happen overnight. The committee works behind the scenes all the year, hosting fundraisers and soliciting donations. Some of the fundraisers include golf tournaments, car washes, and working as security guards for Infineon Raceway. Donations are also accepted from other organizations, such as the Officers' Wives Association, Travis Credit Union, Raley's Grocery, the Top Three, along with other generous companies and personnel. Coordination of the visits with schools in Fairfield, Vacaville, Vallejo, and other facilities begins in the Spring of that year.

"Just think how many more kids and schools we could reach out to if we had more people get involved," said Master Sgt. Carol Robideaux, 349th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and Top Three vice president. "We could really cover a lot of schools and new faces if we had more involvement here at Travis." Sergeant Robideaux has been part of the Operation Teddy Bear program for five years and a member of the Travis Honor Guard for six years. "It's all about the children," she said.

"It really is all about the kids," agreed Master Sgt. Larry Blount, 349th Equipment Maintenance Squadron. Sergeant Blount has been a part of Operation Teddy Bear for three years and last year played 'Santa.' "I've given money to charitable organizations for years and it was always 'faceless,' no real feelings attached," he continued. "However, giving a Teddy bear to a child and seeing their face light up, well, that's what hooked me!"

These 'Santa's helpers' sometimes dress in elf costume to help the children feel more at ease.
"We tell the kids that our plastic ears are real," laughed 'elf' Senior Master Sgt. Kari Sumner, 349th Component Maintenance Squadron. "One year an ear fell off one of the elves, and you should have seen the shocked faces on the kids!" Then more seriously she said, "The expression on the faces when 'Santa' comes in is something you don't forget. The only reason to be involved in this program -- for the kids."

"Senior Master Sgt. Alicia Munoz (349th Chaplains office), Senior Master Sgt. Janis Lambard (349th Airlift Control Flight) and I have been part of this program for more than five years," said Sergeant Lattanzi. "When that child grabs a Teddy bear and squeezes it until you think the head is going to pop off, you realize to that child it is not just a toy but a new best friend. It is that feeling that makes all the hard work worthwhile. This may be the only Christmas present some of these kids get, and maybe the first Teddy bear that child has ever had."

Starting Dec. 1, Operation Teddy Bear will visit the first school on their eleven visit tour. If you haven't had the chance to participate in this event, don't miss it now! You will have the opportunity to experience the true heartfelt joy in children that don't necessarily have a lot to smile about in life. Isn't that really the true meaning of the Christmas Season? It's all about the kids.

For more information or to see how you can help, contact Senior Master Sgt. Mike Lattanzi at (707) 424-5401 or email: michael.lattanzi@travis.af.mil.