Boudreau bear raising ‘Kids’ funds at Hank Snow Centre

Nadine Sarty collected all the stuffed toys, trinkets and cards from the memorial site last month in an effort to preserve them.

She took on the task and had all the bears donated to charitable organizations for children in traumatic situations.

One bear went to the Hank Snow Country Music Centre in Liverpool.

“When I heard what Nadine was doing I thought it was really good,” said curator Wendy Rofihe. “Given the connection with Hank Snow and his work with abused kids and that I had initiated a bit of a fundraising partnership between us and the Kids Help Phone I thought that all kind of tied together and putting the bear on display would draw attention to that particular case.”

On Jan. 27 Karissa Boudreau disappeared from the Bridgewater Sobey’s parking lot. A passerby found the girl’s body on the banks of the Lahave River Feb. 9. At deadline, the police have made no arrests in the case.

At about the same time the Hank Snow County Music Centre received a bear in Karissa’s memory, Grade 9 student Sam Fisher approached Rofihe to see if she could volunteer at the centre.

“I came here one time on a school trip and I really liked the museum so I just wanted to see if there was anything I could do to get involved,” said Fisher.

Grade 9 student Jessica Boudreau volunteers at the centre as well.

The girls have completed the display and Rofihe has them helping out with other duties.

Money raised will go to the Kids Help Phone. The display will be up until the Hank Snow Tribute in August, which is also raising money for Kids Help Phone, added Rofihe.