Campbell Kinsman, a sophomore at Ridgefield High School, is the founder of BearHug, a non-profit organization helping the children of our United States servicemen and women deployed overseas by sending them monthly care packages.
Today, Campbell was overjoyed when two young, philanthropic Ridgefielders, Noah and Toby Lee, gave her a great big BearHug!
“They saved their coins and dollars and donated $45 to BearHug and bought toys for the children with their own money,” Campbell says.
Since its launch in 2014, Kinsman’s company has helped military kids all over the country by sending them monthly care packages, notes, and heartfelt pictures. "Every month we send care packages to military kids so they know that someone is thinking of them," explains Kinsman.
Studies have shown that children who have parents in the military have a higher likelihood to have depression than children whose parents are not in the military.
In 2015, Kinsman was the recipient of Steven Berko Community Service Award and named “Teen Philanthropist of the Year.”
Kinsman spreads the hugs around by sharing the mission of BearHug with local students and volunteer groups like Lion’s Heart and The Girl Scouts.
If anyone knows a child(ren) whose parent is deployed, please contact BearHug. All names and addresses are kept confidential.
Look for Campbell Kinsman at KidsFest on April 23. She will be giving out balloons and attendees will have an opportunity to write letters to children of our American soldiers.
Campbell Kinsman is the daughter of The Little House Shoppe owner Christy Kinsman.
Learn more about BearHug, Inc., here.