For the seventh year in a row, Dorseyville Middle School teacher Scott Vensel brought his eighth-grade students to Family House to bring cheer and comfort to guests through stuffed teddy bears as part of the Shulamit Teddy Bear Project, named after its founder, Shalumit Bastacky.
Shulamit Bastacky was born in Vilnius, Poland, modern day Lithuania, in 1941. For the first three years of her life, she was hidden away by a Polish Catholic nun to avoid persecution by the Germans. In 1945, Bastacky’s father recognized her in a Catholic orphanage because of a unique birthmark, and she was reunited with her family. She would move to Israel before coming to Pittsburgh, where she graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with degrees in social science and social work.
As part of being a hidden child, Bastacky spent the first three years of her life in a basement with minimal human touch, and this included no toys to bring her comfort. Later in life, she realized the comfort that teddy bears could bring. Combined with Shulamit Bastacky’s experiences as a child and as a Holocaust Survivor, she was inspired to launch Shulamit’s Teddy Bear Project, which collected toys for children in need so that every kid could have a teddy bear to turn to for comfort. Sadly, Shulamit Bastacky passed away in 2021 after a battle with cancer.
Scott Vensel, who taught the Holocaust, refused to let this program end. Each year, Scott and his students collect and distribute teddy bears to Family House guests each year and brighten their day with conversation. “She [Bastacky] loved talking to people and bringing a smile to people’s faces,” said Scott.
Family House is particularly meaningful to Scott, as his father stayed in the lodging facility while receiving medical treatment. For Scott, taking time with his students to donate to Family House guests brings everything full circle for the middle school teacher.
The meaning behind this toy drive extends beyond giving stuffed companions to families traveling to Pittsburgh during their healthcare journey: It also serves as a history lesson for the students of Dorseyville, as well as the guests of Family House. In the past, Scott has led Holocaust Remembrance lectures for Dorseyville students alongside Shulamit before her passing in 2021. The Teddy Bear Drive allowed students to engage with a Holocaust Remembrance event, while also keeping Shulamit’s legacy alive.
“There needs to be a space for the empaths and humanitarians,” said Scott. So along with the donation of the teddy bears, the students explain the life of Shulamit Bastacky and the importance of the Shulamit Teddy Bear Project to the guests at Family House. Each teddy bear comes with a note for guests to keep with that information as well.
“I didn’t want a simple joy of giving someone a small gift to go away,” said Vensel. Scott was very adamant on keeping the Teddy Bear drive going following Shulamit’s passing. He and his students have developed a love for this project as it honors the memory of Shulamit. Scott’s vision of the Teddy Bear Drive and its importance perfectly aligns with the mission of Family House. Providing comfort with small gestures can give people all of ages, cultures, genders, and backgrounds the smiles they need to make it through the day.
Family House is so thankful for Scott and his students each time they show up and is looking forward to seeing them again next year.
About The Shulamit Teddy Bear Project
The Shulamith Teddy Bear projects aims to ensure that everyone, regardless of their upbringing, is able to experience the comforts provided by a teddy bear. The Shulamit Teddy Project hopes to receive donations of teddy bears to further spread the kindness, positivity, and tolerance that Shulamit values so dearly. Shulamit Bastacky wanted to spread love and kindness to places like Children’s Hospitals, various shelters, and so much more.
