Helping Hugs plans magic fundraiser to help families in duress

CHESTERTOWN — Tragic things can happen to families in an instant, even in a small county.

But a simple teddy bear, stuffed elephant, or plush puppy dog, given to a child, can make a world of difference.

Stephen Slodysko, Navy veteran and founder/president of Helping Hugs experienced this when his nephew, Jason, a police officer from Williamsburg, Virginia, was confronted by a man in his thirties on the street. Slodysko said Jason was already on edge. Earlier he had a gun pulled on him and the dramatic incident had put him on high-alert.

So this encounter with the man was something that could have been another such incident.

What happened next was unexpected.

This 30-year-old... thanked Jason.

He told him during a time of an emergency when he was a boy, the officer gave him a teddy bear. That memory, a simple act of kindness, remained years later.

Jason posted that story on social media and Slodysko’s journey to create Helping Hugs, a 501c3 nonprofit began.

“If a teddy bear can give an individual a positive reaction, it’s a worthwhile cause,” Slodysko said.

Since June, 2023 he’s reached out to police departments, emergency services, and family services, handing out teddy bears and other stuffed animals to give to families under duress.

He’s been busy, going all over Kent County, meeting with the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, Chestertown Police Department, Kent and Queen Anne’s Emergency Services, various volunteer fire departments and the child advocacy center in town, to name a few.

Slodysko said, “Our goal is to comfort children in times of stress/and or anxiety and to help these suffering find resources they need.”

He’s also been to neighboring counties as well, with the goal of reaching all of Maryland. As he is a small organization, he knew he needed help reaching that.

So he started developing ideas for a fundraiser. He could have went the typical fundraiser route; a dinner or something in that category, he noted.

But, he said, Helping Hugs represents families so he wants it to be entertaining. After witnessing magician Reggie Rice’s performance at a Chestertown Rotary Club gala, and seeing as how his wife, Corrine, who usually doesn’t like magic, was highly entertained, he hit upon an idea; a comedy magic show/ticket raffle fundraiser.

The magician jumped at the chance to do it, being like-minded, also wanting to support families.

The magician is now ready for his act. The stage is being prepared.

Now the community needs to come out to show their support.

On Oct. 4, at 6:30 p.m., Helping Hugs first fundraiser will be held at Kent County High School. The show, Reggie Rice’s Fool of Illusions, is a family experience filled with innovative illusions, storytelling and audience participation.

As the press release states, “There will be music, comedy, dancing and death-defying escapes, as you go on a ride into Reggie’s wild imagination, watching him appear and disappear right before your eyes.”

Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and there are plenty of tickets still available. The whole family can come out, laugh, be amazed, and have a chance to win some cool prizes.

Each ticket holder gets a free raffle ticket and has a chance to win either a $50 gift card to Luisas Cucina Italiana, $50 at Twinny’s Place, $30 at Procolino’s, or a Phat Daddy’s BBQ gift certificate with basket for $25.

The bears and the magic is fun, but this is a part of a larger goal.

Children from homes with violence are more likely to experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and there is a need for police and other emergency services to be able to communicate to the children’s families more effectively.

So teddy bears are a great step. But Slodysko wants to raise enough funds to teach sign language to those officers as well.

With his family at his side, his wife acting as treasurer, and his granddaughter, Clara Jean acting effectively as quality control, happily sampling all the cute, stuffed animals, Slodysko’s off to a solid start.

He said to the community, “With your support we can provide tools to help emergency service providers deal with children involved in or facing the above-listed problems. Tools such as Teddy Bears, American Sign Language and other language training.”

You can donate to the cause at www.helping-hugs.com and purchase tickets for the magic/show ticket raffle there as well.