Bears in the Air program delivers teddy bears to young patients

SOUTH BEND, Ind. --The South Bend International Airport holds its annual Bears in the Air program, for thousands of hospitalized kids to get a special gift. 

With over 2,500 teddy bears being delivered to some of the youngest patients at six Michiana children's hospitals, the goal to brighten up the holiday season for kids and family having a difficult time. 

Administrative Director for Maternal Child Services at St. Joe Mishawaka Hospital, Carol Walker said: "We put them on beds of new admissions for pediatric patients. And they come and we utilize as I said previously, we utilize every single one of them every year." 

Over 17,000 teddy bears have been provided to children in area hospitals in the past eleven years, by the bears in the air program.