When Gene was five years old, he had a stuffed tiger he took everywhere. His mother asked him if he would donate it to Goodwill. She convinced Gene that as much as he loved that tiger, there was someone who needed it more. He agreed, and it was then that she bought him a teddy bear that he named Sandy. Sandy is a little tattered and has gotten a lot of love through the years. That special “huggy bear” has been the companion of both Gene’s children and his grandchildren, Luka and Elias.

Today, Gene shares his wonderful experiences of spending time with his best friend, Sandy, when he was young.