For the second year, Lowe’s collected huggable teddy bears for a good cause.
Two volunteer deputies with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office stopped by the home improvement store on Sept. 8 to load up about 250 teddy bears.
They scooped the plush animals from a table piled high with bears of all sizes and colors.
The teddy bears are given to sheriff’s deputies who hand them out to children when they respond to emergency calls, including domestic violence situations. It’s a way to ease a child’s stress.
Lowe’s collected the stuffed animals for about a month-and-a-half, filling up a large cardboard box placed at an entrance. The contributions came from customers and employees at the Lowe’s location on State Road 54, east of U.S. 41.
“Everyone donated,” said Lowe’s representative, Don McLachlan. “We had such a great response to it.”
Last year’s teddy bear haul took in about 140 bears. The program got started by employees who wanted to help out the community.
The annual teddy bear drive this year was noticeably larger — up by nearly 110 bears over last year.
“I just feel really good that we’re able to put this together to help the kids,” said McLachlan.
Published September 20, 2017
