Brittany Preller Creates Projects to Help Children and Veterans

Milbank High School senior Brittany Preller, daughter of Rhonda and David Preller, has created two charitable programs – Brittany’s Bears, Bunnies, and Books and Luv Veterans – Care Packages. Brittany says, “Helping people has been important to me since I was a young girl in grade school. I helped special needs kids in my elementary school classroom, and I volunteered through Girls Scouts for different service projects. My mom has always looked for ways to volunteer and help others, so she inspired me to try to make a difference. I wanted to help both children and adults, so I started these two main projects.

Brittany’s Bears, Bunnies, and Books provides the Milbank Area Hospital Avera with a stuffed bear or bunny and a book for hospitalized children. “Stuffed animals give comfort to scared children and reading books contributes to their education,” Brittany says. “Research shows stuffed animals can actually reduce stress, anxiety, boredom and help kids recover faster if they are sick. And reading a book with their stuffed friend is an important tool for vocabulary and comprehension.”

Brittany’s compassion also extends to veterans. Brittany’s dad, David, is a 20-year Air Force veteran who served in the Gulf War. David suffered from PTSD and was hospitalized briefly when the family resided in Texas. Through Luv Veterans-Care Packages, Brittany now provides personal care items – shampoo, lotion, combs, lip balm, soap, disposable razors, toothbrushes and toothpaste – to military veterans at the VA Rehabilitation Center in Hot Springs. “Many men and women walk into rehab with nothing, not even basic personal items,” Brittany says. “So, I am giving 1,000 care packages away to hopefully allow them the feeling of pride in having their own personal items.”

Brittany usually purchases the items for both these projects herself, but has occasionally worked with community groups. She completed extensive research to find the most economical vendors, and implemented tools of accountability to track donations. She also does all the packaging and delivering.

“Brittany’s commitment to this project should be commended,” says Milbank Area Hospital Avera Administrator, Natalie Gauer. “She has put forth extra effort to originate this special program that will be shared with many children.”

Brittany’s Bears, Bunnies, and Books partners: Natalie Gauer of Milbank Area Hospital Avera, left, and Brittany Preller, right.