By Gina Yarbrough
Oceanside, CA–In honor of Military Appreciation Month, the Navy Federal Credit Union joined forces with Build-A-Bear to launch Bear Brigade, a special initiative dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of military service members and their families.
Thursday’s event saw active-duty military families gather at the parking lot in front of the Navy Federal Credit Union Oceanside branch for a unique and memorable experience.
The highlight was the opportunity for families to build military-themed stuffed bears, complete with a camouflage uniform, free of charge. What set these bears apart was the ability for families to record personal messages to be placed inside the bears, which their children could playback while their parents served overseas.
Approximately 120 bears were distributed to families who attended the event, although around 300 families had registered to participate. Navy Federal graciously welcomed other families who happened to stop by the event, ensuring that everyone could join in the fun and appreciation.
The event was exciting, featuring a DJ, music, face painting, balloons, and giveaways. Sammy the Sea Otter, the credit union’s beloved mascot, was also present, posing with the families and adding to the festive atmosphere.
One of the attending families, Uziel and Marcella Sanchez, expressed their delight at the event.
“It’s a great event! I finally got my daughters two bears. They love the bears,” said Sanchez, holding one of the bears.
Another attendee, veteran Dionte Chappelle, along with his wife Carol, picked up four bears at the event.
“My wife signed up for the event. It’s really cool for Build-A-Bear to come out here to do this event for the kids and for the families,” said Chappelle. “They all got to record their own voices.”
Mariska Kalmeijer Ruble, Navy Federal Branch Manager in San Diego, highlighted the importance of the event.
“We have invited our military service members to come out here and build a bear with their families. It’s a way for us to give back to our community,” said Ruble.
Members of the Navy Federal branch distributed branded merchandise, including piggy banks, water bottles, and tote bags to families at the event.
According to Ruble, Navy Federal Oceanside is the sole branch participating in this partnership with Build-A-Bear.
The San Diego area is home to over 115,000 active duty servicemembers, and more than 230,000 veterans. Oceanside’s military presence is attributed to its proximity to Camp Pendleton.
“We do reach out to a lot of our members by being in the right place at the right time. So we really want to reach those families and be able to give back. We are really passionate about our outreach and volunteer work,” said Ruble.
Navy Federal Credit Union, founded in 1933, serves over 13 million members globally and is the world’s largest credit union. As a member-owned and not-for-profit organization, Navy Federal always prioritizes the financial needs of its members. Membership is open to all Department of Defense and Coast Guard Active Duty, Veterans, civilian and contractor personnel, and their families. The credit union boasts a workforce of over 24,000 employees and has a global network of 355 branches.
