Russ Teddy Bears Comfort Children After Tornado

More than 1,000 Russ teddy bears provided comfort for children in Massac County, Illinois, following devastating tornados that cut a mile-wide swath through the community in 2003.     Distributed by Pastor Richard Keplinger to pre-schoolers, first and second graders, each bear was accompanied by a note to reassure the children: "I am your Angel bear! Friends that you may never know sent me to be your friend." Wrote one child, who named his bear Josh, "I like the note you wrote. It was nice of you. I will always remember the tornado. The bear helps me." Dubbed Project Angel Bear, the outreach - funded by an anonymous donor - included additional information to help parents reassure their children in the aftermath of the storms.