Carlsbad Police Need Teddy Bears for Annual Bear Drive

Last year, collected more than from community members and city employees.

This year, “Officers from 22 law enforcement agencies hope to collect 100,000 bears and other stuffed animals to cheer some very sick children,” stated Kari Ketchum, Carlsbad Police Dispatcher and organizer of Carlsbad’s participation. “The stuffed toys will be delivered to Rady Children’s Hospital on Dec 13, 2011.” 

A caravan of 80 police cars delivers the toys to the hospital and to the arms of waiting children.

The teddy bear drive began in Dec. of 1990, when Coronado Police Officer Brian Hardy noticed the toy donation bins at Children’s hospital were nearly empty.  Officer Hardy promptly purchased a dozen bears, asked approval to use a police car and delivered the bears to the hospital’s sick children.

If you would like to donate a new, with the tags still attached, stuffed bear or other animal, deliver it to the City of Carlsbad Police Department at 2560 Orion Way during regular business hours or to any of the agencies listed on the official website 

 Press Release by City of Carlsbad Police Department