Teddy bears to calm kids Staff Report METROPOLIS, Ill.--More than 1,200 Russ brand teddy bears will be distributed to southern Illinois elementary school students to help them work through trauma from recent deadly tornadoes. "Each one has a printed message that says, ‘I'm your Angel Bear,’" said the Rev. Richard Keplinger, who was contacted by an anonymous donor and asked to distribute the bears. "We want to help the kids work through the emotions of fear and sadness. Not all of these children have been affected by the tornadoes, but they've seen the sights and they've heard people talking about...