Six years ago, Jeannie and Ernie Stratis came upon a tragic car accident along the 78. It was Christmas Eve and, seeing that children were involved, Jeannie told Ernie, “I wish I had something for them to hold, to help bring some comfort.” 

Ernie, a retired 22-year veteran of the San Diego Sheriff’s Office, made some calls, and Jeannie started sewing. Just nine months later, all Sheriff’s stations in the county had a supply of handmade Teddy bears ready for deployment.  

The San Marcos City Council recognized Jeannie and Ernie Stratis Tuesday with the Civic SMILE Award, short for “San Marcos Inspiration, Leadership and Excellence.”  

“Jeannie and Ernie are exactly what this award is all about,” said City Council Member Danielle LeBlang, who nominated the couple and their organization, Bears for Badges. “It’s so incredible to see the difference they have made, not just for children affected by trauma, but the community that has grown around their work.” 

Volunteers meet in the clubhouse at Palomar Estates West in San Marcos for “stuffing parties,” where neighbors and friends bring the bears to life under Jeannie’s watchful eyes. All the “bear skin” sewing, except the final closure, is done in advance by Jeannie and six friends with superior seamstress skills.  

Not all bears pass inspection. It took LeBlang a couple of tries to get the right amount of stuffing packed into the arms of her first bear. The ears are also tricky. Once the new bears meet Jeannie’s exacting standards, they are distributed to a growing list of law enforcement and fire agencies in the region, including the San Marcos Fire Department and San Marcos Sheriff’s station. 

Once bears are delivered to a station, first responders take a couple in their vehicle to have on hand in case they encounter a child involved in an accident, crime or family violence. The bears give the kids something to hold and to hug, helping to calm them down at a very stressful time. The bears also help show kids that first responders are nothing to be afraid of. 

One of the more memorable bear missions involved a boy with Down Syndrome who had gone missing. His parents were especially worried because, even if he were located, he would likely not let a stranger, even a police officer, get close. Sheriff deputies who spotted him happened to have a Star Wars themed bear riding shotgun on that particular day. Unbeknownst to them at the time, the boy absolutely loved Star Wars. Once he saw the bear, he came right over, and they were able to reunite the family.  

Aside from the thousands of children whose lives have been touched by the handmade bears, over 6,000 and counting, Jeannie has noticed another lasting change since creating Bears for Badges. 

“Neighbors I had never met started to come to the clubhouse to volunteer, finding new friends in the process,” she said. “Now I see them going for walks together, sharing their lives. It’s something I never anticipated and such a blessing.” 

Bears for Badges could easily continue to grow, but the Stratis’s den is full – Ernie converted their living room to overflow bear storage a while ago. Jeannie also likes that it is still small enough for her to ensure each bear is filled with love (and just the right amount of stuffing). 

San Marcos City Council members each nominate one SMILE Award recipient a year. See the full list of honorees, 22 and counting, on the city’s website.