Last chance to donate to ‘Timeless Teddies’ initiative
CHESTER » Local Chester businesses are asking the public to donate new 10-14 inch teddy bears to help children in the city faced with trauma during fire and police emergencies. The program, Timeless Teddies: Building Relationships, One Bear at a Time was launched in June with a goal of collecting 500 bears.
“The number of house fires during summer months alone can traumatize up to 500 children,” said Fire Commissioner Travis Thomas. “When children see emergency personnel, they associate us with the trauma, not as someone they can trust.”
Building relationships is very important to officials with the City of Chester. “If we can give teddy bears to young children, hopefully they will learn to trust us during emergency situations,” said Police Major Steven Gretsky.
Both Thomas and Gretsky believe the Timeless Teddies program will help strengthen community ties between the residents of Chester and officials trying to protect and serve. Cities throughout the country have launched similar bear collection projects and have experienced success by exceeding their goals and easing tensions during emergencies.
“With the support of the public, as well as employees from Optymyze, the Philadelphia Union, Day & Zimmerman, PHEAA, AWS Learning and Power, all located at The Wharf at Rivertown in Chester, we look forward to exceeding the City’s goal of 500 bears by July 31,” said Thomas Urie, Executive Vice President of Revenue at Optymyze.
Urie invites all businesses and individuals to participate. Donors may order a new bear of their choice online and have it shipped to: Optymyze, Attention: Timeless Teddies, 2501 Seaport Drive, SH107, Chester, PA 19013.