Chapter Spotlight: Teddy Bear Clinic at Apalachee High School

On Friday September 22, 2023, Apalachee High School’s HOSA in Winder Georgia conducted a teddy bear clinic during “Touch a Truck” for Yargo Elementary’s young students. In the event, many of Apalachee's HOSA members volunteered to set up and work at a makeshift clinic. The elementary schoolers could bring in their own stuffed animal or they could borrow toys provided by the members. There were also donated stuffed animals that they could take home. Going through the clinic, the “patients” had to go through different stations to make sure the stuffed animals were “healthy.” The stations were: Heart check where the volunteers used stethoscopes to check the bears. The kids also had the chance to check their own toys’ “heartbeat.” Flu shots, where the teddies would get “injected” and a sticker for where their shot was. The eye check used pens to “check the eyes of the bears,” and reflex check made sure the reflexes of the bears were “in check.” It was a very enjoyable experience for all the participants. The children came to understand that going to the doctor's office is welcoming and extremely beneficial for everyone’s health. Everyone who joined us now knows that going to the doctor's office is not that bad, especially if their teddies could do it! The Teddy Bear clinic was an amazing success and brightened many children and their teddies day!