FIRST NATIONAL BANK & Trust’s Project Teddy Bear Committee members are shown with representatives of some of the agencies that receive the stuffed animals they collect for children. From left, in the front row are Lexi Roberge; Jake Hogberg; Jennifer Witte, Dickinson County Salvation Army; Marie Johnson, Emplify Health by Bellin; Karen Blackhall, Pine Mountain Ski Patrol; and Simone Rossato, Emplify Health by Bellin. In back are Steve Bartolac; Cole Grenier; Brandon Baldwin, Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson; Jordan Sleeter; Austin Snell, Iron Mountain Police; Jeremy Hauswirth, Michigan State Police; Jeff Solka, Iron Mountain Police; Jennifer Roell, Emplify Health by Bellin; Geno Basanese, Michigan State Police; Tara Coss, Dickinson County Salvation Army; Molly Wahoviak, Caring House; Russ Kassin, First National Bank & Trust president and CEO; Melissa Grahn, Emplify Health by Bellin; Tom Bell, Pine Mountain Ski Patrol; Joy Waldbillig, Emplify Health by Bellin; and Steve Blackhall, Pine Mountain Ski Patrol.

IRON MOUNTAIN — First National Bank & Trust of Iron Mountain’s Project Teddy Bear program committee has announced that during 2024 holiday season drive they collected almost 500 new stuffed toys to be donated to local emergency responders, crisis centers, children’s organizations and local medical facilities.

Since Project Teddy Bear’s inception in 2017, donations have been collected each year from the annual Flivver Hockey Teddy Bear Toss event, followed by continued collecting throughout December.

The program makes donations for both Christmastime use and again in January for the responders using the toys year-round in emergency and/or medical situations.

Before Christmas, donations were made to Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson, Caring House and Caring House Child Advocacy Center, Dickinson County Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, U.P. Foster Closet and the First National Share Your Christmas program.

The Jan. 24 donations included Michigan State Police, Iron Mountain Police and Fire Departments, Pine Mountain Ski Patrol, and Emplify Health by Bellin, as well as additional donations to the Caring House and Caring House Child Advocacy Center, Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson and Dickinson County Salvation Army.

“Talking to our local emergency responders and hearing their heartfelt stories about the positive impact of giving a child a stuffed animal in an emergency really reinforces why we created Project Teddy Bear at First National Bank & Trust,” said Matthew Lutz, chief financial officer of First National. “It became especially personal for me when I was in the Emergency Department with my son and saw the joy on his face when he received a stuffed animal.”

Over the past seven years, Project Teddy Bear has donated about 3,000 new stuffed toys. The Project Teddy Bear initiative is part of FNB’s ongoing dedication to supporting and strengthening the community.