Soldiers' Angels

For several years, Soldiers' Angels has proudly worked with Patches Kids to provide Patches the Bear to children of fallen heroes through the Living Legends team. Now Patches Kids is expanding its support of the troops with a new program focused on children, encouraging them to express their patriotism by raising money, participating in Soldiers' Angels projects, and using art to connect with military children.  During this special project, dubbed Pennies for Patches, $5 of the cost of each bear sponsored for military children will be donated to Soldiers' Angels.

Patches is a special teddy bear who comes with eight little tags expressing a variety of emotions through the use of "smiley faces."  Small children can select and attach a tag to Patches based on how they are feeling, which helps the children share and talk about their emotions.  Patches can help military children talk about the confusing and difficult emotions they are likely feeling when their parent is deployed, wounded or fallen in the line of duty.

The main goals of Pennies for Patches are to comfort and support military children, encourage patriotism through supporting the troops and their families, and help children develop philanthropic activities.  Pennies for Patches will be working with children's organizations and programs across the country this summer to help children show support for their peers in military families and discover their philanthropic side by raising money to sponsor Patches Bears for children of deployed, wounded, or fallen service members.  In addition to the fundraising efforts, Patches will invite children through an art contest with Flags Across the Nation to create quilts and cards of support for military children receiving the bears.

And most exciting for Soldiers' Angels, Patches will be carrying word of the Soldiers' Angels mission to many locations throughout the country via Flags Across the Nation and Pennies for Patches, inviting people to adopt a soldier or get involved with a Soldiers' Angels team while they support military children.

Soldiers' Angels encourages Angels to get involved with this great project, and salutes Patches Kids for their continuing support of the "littlest troops."

For more materials and information on how to participate, see PatchesKids.org, download the information packet, or contact:

Kathylee Forrester
215-345-4126
klforrester@patcheskids.org