Teddy Bear Foundation
Our mission is to create a community for homeless and disabled veterans in order to focus on healing the Mind, Body and Soul from the physical and mental wounds associated with military service and to teach skills needed to better transition back into civilian life.
Join With us on a Sacred Mission to Leave NO Man (or Woman) Behind.
Our mission is to create a community for homeless and disabled veterans in order to focus on healing the Mind, Body and Soul from the physical and mental wounds associated with military service and to teach skills needed to better transition back into civilian life.
Wendy Thigpen Rickard is the President and Co-Founder of the Teddy Bear Foundation. Wendy is a native of Lauderdale County, Alabama. She graduated from Brooks High School in 2008 and went on to pursue a degree in American history and business at Northwest Shoals Community College and the University of North Alabama. In 2010 Wendy applied for and completed the program to be a nationally certified pharmacy technician. After working in pharmacy for two years she left due to her own moral issues with the opioid crisis and corruption within our healthcare system, and her firm belief in service over self. Wendy was not eligible for enlistment into the armed services; however her desire to serve our great country is unwavering. A true patriot, Wendy has dedicated herself to serving veterans where they need help the most, on the home front, after the scars of war are forgotten by the military.
Christopher Alexander Judd Co- Founder
JJ Stewart Co-Founder
Teddy Bear Foundation
Offering rehabilitation to the Veteran, Mind, Body, and Soul
Teddy Bear Foundation is dedicated to the Rehabilitation of the United States Veteran Mind, Body and Soul. We offer custom assistance not only to the suffering Veteran but to their family unit as well. By fostering the idea of communities helping Veterans and Veterans helping communities, we hope to change the stigma associated with our Veterans and their very real need for care. The transition from military to civilian life is difficult, but don’t worry we’ve got your six.
At TBF we believe that no Veteran should be subject to homelessness, untreated medical needs, or isolation when they return to American soil. These brave men and women who fought for our freedoms often fall victim to drugs and alcohol as their only coping mechanism. Some have mental issues right off the bat, for others it could be years before they are triggered. The “opioid epidemic” has fueled the helplessness by supplying them with temporary fixes that only mask the underlying problem: They were in WAR. They have experienced death up close, their comrades, the enemy, and the innocent civilians. They lost limbs, suffered TBIs, PTSD and crippling anxiety.
TBF has a vision of building a community where veterans who have fallen into despair, with nowhere to turn, can come and heal with the help of others just like them. This will be a fully self-sufficient community that will teach trades, agriculture, and civilian lifestyle. We wish to include a community center, a medical building, trade shops, and most important “tiny homes”. Our goal is to have every building handi-cap assessable so no one needs to worried about what they can or cannot do.
We understand that not everyone needs a place to stay but still have needs that they cannot afford. Veterans that come to TBF will receive a custom Vet Pack to meet their individual needs that can include but is not limited to: Clothing, hygiene needs, food, and household items. We will also help with medical cost, energy cost and transportation needs.
Veterans that wish to go through the Top Home program will be assigned to a Care giver that will physically meet with them each day in order to navigate their healing process. Care givers will help with housework, meals, paperwork, transportation, and life planning.
TBF is a faith, based, Christian organization. However we are dedicated to help any Veteran, of any faith at any time. Weather a Veteran is Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or Agnostic they will be welcomed with open arms and all reasonable request for their faith met in their healing journey. Each veteran is an individual and deserves care and compassion in their own domination. They fought for religious freedoms and we shall do our best to accommodate them.
We will be working closely with other local originations that provide counseling and treatment programs until our facilities are completed. A screening process to ensure the vet is in the correct program is in place. And all outside originations that we use will be continually check upon so we know our Vets are receiving the care promised to them.