In 1991, the Hug-A-Bear project was introduced to the Blue Ridge Council of the Old Dominion Chapter. This project quickly caught fire and has been worked on by members in Leesburg, Fredericksburg, Winchester, Manassas, Warrenton, Fairfax and Culpeper areas. The Bears are given to children in hospitals, doctors offices, local Police agencies, and some have made it to Venezuela via local Church Missions. Also, in 2006, the bears were added to the "Brighter Tomorrow Backpacks" that are stuffed and distributed to local Domestic Violence Shelters.
In 1993, the Pioneers were asked by the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. to add a Hug-A-Bear display in honor of Volunteer Week. The Blue Ridge Council donated four bears to the display. Over the years the bears have evolved into "Smart Bears". "Smart Bears" include a small book attached by ribbon around the bear's neck. The Blue Ridge Council makes over 125 bears a month and each bear takes about four hours, which includes cutting, painting eyes, sewing, and stuffing.
This month marks the distribution of the 40,000th bear in the Blue Ridge Council area. That's a total of 160,000 hours of love and kindness for a sick or frightened child.