McKinley Elementary School Partners with “Chuckles the Clown” to Bring Smiles and Joy to Hospital-Bound Children Over the Holidays

McKinley Elementary School has a long tradition of community service and giving back to the local and broader area communities.  Over the past ten years, McKinley students and staff have collaborated with Mr. Richard Stoudt, a retired Abington School District bus driver who plays the role of “Chuckles the Clown” for his “Bears that Care” initiative.   This program collects new teddy bears for children who will be spending the holidays in local hospitals.   “Chuckles” then tours area hospitals to bring smiles to the faces of patients as he hands out teddy bears. McKinley students, staff, and families generously collected and gave over 100 bears recently for this program and the teddy bears will be distributed to pediatric patients in hospitals in the Philadelphia area over the holidays.   The teddy bear drive was coordinated by the McKinley K-Kids Program sponsored by Mr. Michael Pinkhasov and Ms. Lauryn Kelly.   The McKinley School family was very happy to help their fellow children at this time of year by giving them a special companion for the holidays.