For a sick and possibly scared child, receiving a teddy bear or other stuffed animal can be a source of comfort. And that is what revs up the San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Teddy Bear Drive.
The San Diego County Probation Department and San Diego County Sheriff’s Department are co-hosting this year’s Teddy Bear Drive, benefitting Rady Children’s Hospital.
“Our goal is to make sure that every kid that gets admitted to Rady Children’s Hospital gets a teddy bear or stuffed animal,” said Deputy Probation Officer Sean Griffin, who is helping coordinate the event. “If we can provide just a little bit of comfort, it’s well worth it.”
Last year, the drive collected a haul of more than 40,000 stuffed animals, and Griffin says he would love to match or top that number this year.
The drive officially kicks off on Tuesday, Nov. 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Chick-fil-A at 3570 Sports Arena Blvd. The restaurant is kicking in a free meal to everyone who brings in a new huggable-size teddy bear or stuffed animal with tags still attached, all of which will be delivered to patients at the hospital on Dec. 9.
The family friendly event will include regional law enforcement vehicles and displays outside the restaurant.
“It lets us step away from the law enforcement job that we normally have to do and lets us be mothers, fathers, uncles and aunts that we really are,” said San Diego Sheriff’s Deputy Rey Lyyjoki about what he enjoys about the teddy bear drive.
He said it is also a way to keep alive the efforts of Coronado Police Officer Brian Hardy who started the teddy bear drive in 1990. Law enforcement agencies take turns cohosting the event every year now, and next year to commemorate 25 years, the Coronado Police Department will co-host with the County Probation Department.
All law enforcement offices and courts participate in the drive and collect new stuffed animals or monetary donations from the public through Dec. 8. All money collected is used to purchase additional teddy bears when the hospital’s supply starts running low at the end of the year.
