Bear Brings Christmas Early For Kids On Shopping Spree

The actual holiday may still be a week away, but the Christmas spirit was alive and well early Saturday morning, as Utah Jazz mascot Bear treated over 150 children to shopping sprees at an area Wal-Mart. The event, organized by Bear and Firemen & Friends for Kids, gave children the opportunity to spend $100 however they wanted at the Taylorsville Wal-Mart.

The children met with their volunteer partners at the Sorenson Multi-Cultural Center, where they were treated to a free breakfast provided by Domino’s Pizza and a performance by the Utah Jazz cheerleaders. Bear arrived amid of a flurry of flying posters, confetti and silly string, and was promptly mobbed by the anxious and thankful youngsters. He then led the way to Wal-Mart, sitting in the lowered ladder on top of a fire truck that was part of a police escort, in true grand Bear fashion.

Once in the store, chaos naturally broke out, with kids’ goals and wants almost as divergent as their backgrounds. “We have kids from every walk of life here,” said Brenda Hoskins, one of the event’s organizers. “This is what Christmas is all about. They come here and end up buying mostly things for their families. We can learn so much from them.”

Michael, an 8 year old from Salt Lake City, originally had all toys in his cart, but decided at the last minute to get some jewelry for his father. Other kids were seen with such items as detergent, toilet paper and toothpaste. Some even came with a shopping list. Regardless, they were all reminded that the money was theirs, and they could spend it anyway they saw fit. Which made the fact some of them willingly spent it on their families needs rather than themselves even more remarkable.

The smiles on their faces were likely bigger than any they had experienced in a while. Many of the kids came from humanitarian organizations like the Road Home Shelter and Neighborhood House (neighborhoodhouseonline.org), and their families are almost unanimously torn by poverty or abandonment. Thanks to Bear and the tireless work of the organizers, the kids were able to leave their troubles behind for a few hours while they took part in a tradition so many privileged kids take for granted: Christmas gifts.

The shopping spree was one of several Bear has in the area, including similar events in Manti and Ogden. Hoskins estimates that over 380 kids will take part in the program this year.

Although one may be tempted just to see him as a big goof that is only around to pump up basketball fans, Bear actually spends a large portion of his time making appearances and organizing charitable events like Saturday’s.

“Bear really is my hero,” Hoskins admitted. “I’ve known him for 16 years now, and the things he does really are remarkable. He’s our leader. He sets the direction, and just knows what group of kids we need to focus on helping.” The two are part of a group of local business and civic leaders that quietly piece together events like this one, in the name of “pay it forward” style humanitarianism that prefers to go without recognition.

Perhaps Santa Claus doesn’t always wear a big red suit and funny hat. For many local kids, Santa looks like a big fuzzy animal with a bag full of silly string.