NORWICH – At Bassett Healthcare-Norwich, when they’re not fixing up patients, the staff may be stitching up plush animals to give to a patient in need. 

In early 2007, the health center staff began creating plush critters in their down time and at home in their free time. The handcrafted teddy bears, dogs and other animals are offered to comfort kids in the emergency room, victims of abuse, families who’ve lost their home due to fire or a patient who may have experienced trauma. The team to date has given away 30 plush animals at Bassett Healthcare facilities, from Cooperstown to Sidney to Edmeston.