Special to the Tribune

The next time the telephone company is mentioned, don’t think about a bill or the nuisance of dialing long numbers. Think about a cute little bear.

That’s what &uot;the telephone company&uot; means to many frightened children when they are hurt or in situations that frighten them.

Little cloth teddy bears called Hug-A-Bears, made by Qwest Pioneers in Minnesota, are given to children when they’re involved in something like a car accident or other medical emergency.

&uot;Answering the call of those in need&uot; is the slogan of the Hug-A-Bear program. It began in 1986 in Ortonville by Twyla Hineman, a 31-year retiree of Northwestern Bell. The program was seen as a way to comfort a child traumatized by a family crises or an accident. The project spread like “lightening on a wire” to many other Pioneer councils in the U.S.

Two groups of Life Member Pioneers in Minneapolis, a north and south group, meet monthly to cut, sew, and stuff hundreds of small, squeezable Hug-A-Bears. More than 32 women are making Hug-A-Bears and donating them to law enforcement, fire and ambulance services in the metro area.

Life Member Pioneers are retirees of Northwestern Bell, US West, Qwest and AT&T.;

Hennepin County Medical Center and North Memorial Ambulance Service are the two largest organizations that use Hug-A-Bears in situations where a child needs a little extra comfort.

According to the professionals who give the bears to children, the bear calms the child and usually makes the tears diminish. It occupies the child and makes the situation and even the police officer, firefighter or emergency medical team seem less frightening.

During the years, the Pioneers have received countless thank you notes telling them how the kids will take a Hug-A-Bear and just hang on to it for dear life. The child gets to keep it and snuggle with it until his world isn’t such a frightening place.

Since the Hug-A-Bear program began, the Minneapolis TelecomPioneers have made thousands of bears. In addition to distributing them locally, Hug-A Bears have been sent on many national and international disaster relief efforts after earthquakes, tornados and hurricanes. Hug-A-Bears have been donated to two Minnesota units in Iraq for distribution to the children hurt in the war.

The bears are made primarily from donated material. Much of the stuffing comes from a sporting goods manufacturer of boating vests. Other material may come from local drapery or handicraft shops. The Hug-A-Bear ladies also look for fabric at thrift shops and garage sales. Donations of fabric or stuffing is appreciated. Cash donations are used to purchase the required safety eyes and noses, yarn for the neck ties, labels and plastic bags used on the bears.

The ladies enjoy the fellowship and time passes quickly during their monthly stuffin’ meetings.

Their greatest satisfaction is knowing that their efforts might bring a smile to the face of a child who is hurt or frightened.