Ewww I see Sponge Bob

Well as you can see the teddys (and other cuddlys) still keep arriving - this is a photo call of new arrivals in the last few days. All the other bears are now packed and ready to depart in the hope that in the next few days the appropriate paperwork will come through for their journey south.

Just a reminder though that at the moment we are still accepting new travellers so please continue to send the bears

So what do a LOT of bears look like?

Ok I have to admit this does look like a lot of bears and dogs and other strange cuddly things (and Tigger is still on the window). It's just utterly amazing how, what seemed like a crazy idea one night in bed, has tured into this truly amazing cuddly mountain - and this isn't all of them. But of course I have to say there is still some space left for more, so keep them coming (I will stop when my sister-in-law can no longer get into her warehouse to work) for every bear you can send we WILL find the child who wants to love it.

Angels and Bears

Pictured in the photo amongst the 498 teddys (yup someone DID count them) are 3 of the members of the Oil City First Church of God, Bonnie Ellis, Fred Harris and his son Max. Fred and his son, Max have launched a "Hands on - Kids Helping Kids campaign" to supply young hurricane victims with new toys - hence their interest and collaboration with our "Teddys for Hope". Fred is instrumental in organizing the transportation with the trucking line who has volunteered a tractor-trailer and driver. Fred told us tonight that as soon as they secure the proper permits, they will be travelling south to distribute what they have collected along with our teddys. They want to actually "put the toys and teddys in the hands of the children", that's why they are securing the proper permits with FEMA (not quite as easy as it sounds!) - they don't want to just drop off the stuff and leave it in hopes it will get distributed, they want to be sure it does. We have also heard that Venango Video (the local Oil City/Franklin TV station) is hoping to travel south with them and video the distribution. 185 of the bears above were collected by the children and parishoners from the church, the other 313 were collected at UPMC NW Medical Center thru the efforts of the Oil City Ministerium,in a collection organized by the hospital Chaplain, Jane French.

I cannot thank the church for all they are doing both in their collection of bears and in their help in making sure all 2000+ WILL get to where they are most needed Angels and Bears together what a combination!

Stowaway Stowaway .......................

Having had Tigger joining the fun last week this week we discovered someone else trying to sneak south amongst the teddys. Ok so he has lots of fur and BIG hug me hug me eyes, so perhaps he really did think he could pass it off and get sent south. Unfortunately, Buxie the cat, is pretty high maintenance with an enormous appetite but more importantly loved way to much at home to be allowed to head south. So nice try, but you just guard them till they are ready to leave.

The best news of all though is this weekend the teddy total has passed TWO THOUSAND BEARS which is so far beyond expectations it defies any other words but THANK YOU !!!! and of course a reminder that yes we are still collecting so keep them coming.