A Bear-y Happy Holiday Season Thanks to Police
Along with law enforcement agencies throughout San Diego, SDSU Police collected donated teddy bears for Rady Childrens Hospital.
Bringing cheer in stuffed animal form
Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies across San Diego County participate in the drive, which supplies teddy bears and stuffed animals to patients at Rady Children’s Hospital. A caravan of collected bears, including those from SDSU, departed from the U.S.S. Midway en route to the hospital the morning of Dec. 15.
“We’ve had a number of officers involved with the community over the years,” said SDSU Police Officer Jennifer Hart, who helped organize the department’s efforts this year. “It’s something that we’re all really proud to be involved in.”
While the SDSU Police Station annually hosts a collection point, this year, the Office of Housing Administration and Residential Education got involved as a collection point for students and the department’s staff members.
Making a difference
“Being involved in the community is a core value and mission of the Residential Education Office staff and students,” said Christy Samarkos, director of residential education. “We are honored and thrilled to be able to participate with University Police to make a difference in the lives of the children at Rady Children's Hospital.”
Residential Education also had some very special bears donated this year, dressed as firefighters, police officers or in military fatigues.
According to Samarkos, they were donated by ProLog Logistics Inc. The husband of Jackie Fuller, residence hall coordinator for Maya and Olmeca residence halls, is employed by ProLog Logistics, which works on behalf of clients for warehousing and order processing needs. The bears were extra inventory in the company’s San Diego warehouse.
About the drive
The San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Teddy Bear Drive was started by Coronado police officer Brian Hardy in 1990. After collecting teddy bears and stuffed animals all year long, a police caravan travels through San Diego with lights and sirens to Rady Children's Hospital where officers and players with the San Diego Chargers NFL team are greeted by the cheers of the children, staff and family members. After a brief ceremony, the officers and Charger players distribute the teddy bears and stuffed animals to the children throughout the hospital. A Bear-y Holiday Season Thanks to Police
