10News honors Jacob Fish for working with firemen in his community to raising money in order build and buy toy bears for children in need.

In 2007, at age five, Jacob was motivated by his parents to help out the local fire stations in his community. Jacob decided he wanted to do something beneficial for children his age and discovered the idea of building toy bears for children who are less fortunate or needed going through difficult times. He started his project by making and selling hand-made picture frames at his mother’s softball games.

Jacob takes all of the earnings he makes from the crafts he sells and buys Build-A-Bears to give to the fire stations in his area as well as outside locations. He hand makes every bear and also delivers them to each location. He has kept a photo album of each bear created and tracks where each one is delivered. Donation sites include the Red Cross Fire Evacuation centers, Child Protective Services, Murrieta Fire Stations, Family Justice Center, Loma Linda Children’s Hospital, and his elementary school’s holiday toy drive.

Since Jacob started his program last year, he has delivered close to 200 bears. He has successfully involved his friends and baseball teammates into his program and has utilized their help to make craft items and building bears.

Currently, Jacob is still fundraising and selling his craft items. He is looking to create more items to sell in order to keep all of his donation sites stocked with bears for kids in need.