Greater Columbia Au Pairs and the Charleston Au Pairs with their bears at Columbiana Mall’s Build–A–Bear Workshop. AuPairCare, an au pair placement agency, is teaming up with Build– A–Bear Workshop stores nationwide for their second annual Share–A–Bear campaign that invites au pairs to give back to their local communities by making a bear to be donated to a local children’s charity.

Last year, AuPair- Care held over 100 events nationwide donating 1800 furry friends to over 100 local charities. Heidi Woehl, VP of AuPairCare, says, “AuPairCare is present in many of same areas as Build–A–Bear Workshop stores and their motto that “a bear hug is understood in any language” is very much inline with the role an au pair can play in the life of a child and host family. We are very excited about our continued partnership and the opportunity for our au pairs who make a difference in the lives of the children they care for, to extend the spirit of international friendship through these bears to other children in their area.”

Columbia area and Charleston area au pairs held their party March 28 at Columbiana Mall’s Build–A–Bear Workshop. Led by AuPairCare area directors, Elizabeth Dorn and Cynthia Altizer, over 15 au pairs from six different countries will stuff and name teddy bears while also creating individual cards wishing the recipient of their bear good wishes in their own language. The Columbia area au pairs will then donate their special international bears to the children of Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital in Columbia.