Our Story
As a nurse for over 27 years, I’ve seen kids in the operating room who are scared and can’t be with their parents. Having something to hold on to and love makes all the difference. It says: you’re not alone.
— Tina Yakel, RN, founder
Tina Yakel is a registered nurse of more than 27 years and the owner of Salty Fluids. In 2025 she started Teddy Hugs of Hope so that every child waking up from surgery at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital would have a bear to hold.
Our first year, 2025
- 25the first hope
- 150then this
- 200then this
- nearly 300what the community gave
2025 was the drive’s first year, and Tina hoped for about 25 bears.
Vaughn Law hosted the very first box. More St. Pete businesses followed, and the goal went up to 150, then 200. By delivery day the community had given close to 300 bears, far more than anyone had pictured when the first box went into a lobby.
Delivered to All Children’s, December 16, 2025.
Santa, Tina and the crew carried every bear to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. The hospital thanked the crew with a certificate of appreciation.
Tina’s recap, filmed from the trolley
Ride along.
As seen on Tampa Bay 28
Tampa Bay 28 covered the drive: hoping for a few dozen bears, it ended up with close to 300 for kids waking up from surgery.
It took a trolley full of people.
Box hosts, sponsors, friends, an elf and one very patient Santa. The 2025 drive ran on volunteers who showed up in Santa hats and stayed until every box was on the trolley.
Tina also runs Breakfast Blessings, another St. Pete giving project in the same spirit.
