ESCONDIDO: Teddy bear shop opens with drive for foster families

By GARY WARTH - Staff Writer | Thursday, July 10, 2008 5:10 PM PDT ∞

ESCONDIDO --- Boys and girls from Palomar Family YMCA looked a little like Santa's elves Thursday morning when they pitched in to make teddy bears for foster children at the new Build-a-Bear Workshop at Westfield North County shopping center in Escondido.

"Now I want you to give this bear the biggest hug," store employee Brittany Bunton told one of the children after helping him stuff a toy, which she explained was very special because it was a charity bear.

About two dozen children from the YMCA made bears for Escondido-based Connected Through Kids, a nonprofit resource for foster families. A similar event will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, when the first 150 guests at the store can build a bear that will be donated to Connected Through Kids.

Build-a-Bear Workshop is an international chain of shops where customers stuff, clothe and accessorize teddy bears, puppies, turtles and other toy animals.

The customized bears, which generally sell for $25 to $35, can be dressed as everything from princesses to pirates. Costumes include sports, police and military uniforms, and accessories range from cell phones and beauty kits to hockey sticks and little guitars.

"How do you put the pants on?" one boy ask store employee Jon Hartz, who was dressing the boy's new bear in camouflage shorts.

"One leg at a time," Hartz said.

"Just like my mom does," said the boy, who named his new bear "Henry."

Build-a-Bear Workshop holds similar "Stuffed With Hugs" charitable events when new stores are launched and at other times throughout the year. The program has provided 325,000 teddy bears to children through various charity programs since 2001, according to the company.

Contact staff writer Gary Warth at (760) 740-5410 or gwarth@nctimes.com.

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