It all started with a few stuffed bears. Last year, nine-year-old Brock Strauch became something of a Build-A-Bear Workshop aficionado. He would beg his parents to take him to the mall, so he could create another of the shop’s custom stuffed animals. But then, one day, Brock saw a commercial for Shriners Children’s Hospital on TV and realized that those kids, unlike himself, couldn’t just go to the mall and build their own bear. “It made me really sad,” he recalls. 

To his parents’ surprise, Brock began donating his creations to the hospital. And it didn’t stop there. The next thing they knew, their son was collecting donations, so he could build even more bears with the pie-in-the-sky goal of making sure every child at Shriners had a bear of their very own. 

At one point, Brock had up to 50 bears in his parents’ room and has now donated over 100 bears to the hospital (to donate, visit gofundme.com/buildabears-for-shriners). A few friends have joined him in his mission as well. They hope to someday bring the bear-making service to the hospital so the children there can assemble the bears themselves. “I just want the kids to be happy and have a good childhood,” Brock insists, and his mom, Brenda, couldn’t be prouder. “He has a huge heart,” she shares. “He made me think that we should be doing a lot more for our community. If he can do it, we can do it, too.”  

By Amber Foster

Q&A

An oceanographer.

What comes to you naturally? Sports, helping others, and being kind.

Biggest life inspirations?
My parents.

What are you most proud of? How well my dog does tricks.

Best words of wisdom you’ve received?
Treat others the way you want to be treated.

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