For the past couple of weeks, the folks at the Decatur County Senior Center have been busy sewing and stuffing little bears to be loved and cherished by little hands.

These bears were made and sent to Gainesville, Fla., in honor of Pearson Martin, son of Derek and Shana Martin, and to be distributed to the children at Shands Pediatric Oncology Clinic at Shands Hospital. This clinic is the first step in helping children diagnosed with cancer.

This can be a very life-changing experience, as the Martins well know.

The bears were given to Mary Norris, who is turn, turned them over to her daughter and granddaughter, Shelly Rogers, LPN, of Dr. Paul Bennett’s office, and Louanna Gandy of CVS. The two ladies then drove them to Gainesville to present them to the Martin family. The Martins took the bears to the clinic in hopes of easing the pain of some other wonderful children like Pearson.

In the past, these bears have been made and donated to EMTs, fire departments, Memorial Hospital’s emergency room and to local doctors’ offices here in Decatur County.

Now we have followed one of our own Decatur County families to Gainesville, and hopefully will help more children as we have done here.

Keep up the good work, seniors, and know that your work is being appreciated by all the little hands that hold these bears.