Any parent knows a stuffed animal can provide quick comfort to a child. And this holiday season, a local family service agency is trying to ensure as many kids get that gift as possible.
After a friend approached Loudonville Home for Adults Assisted Living owner Michael Levine about donating teddy bears to Northern Rivers Family Services, he said it seemed like a “natural thing for us to do.”
“Around the holidays we like to try to something for somebody,” Levine said. “I think teddy bears are all about a loving feeling, a comfort. Children really need those things, especially around the holidays.”
This year, the adult home decided to work with Northern Rivers, which is the parent organization for both Parsons Child and Family Center and Northeast Parent & Child Society, by donating brand new teddy bears for the “Every Child Needs A Teddy Bear and Every Teddy Bear Needs A Child” campaign through Friday, Dec. 14.
Many children helped by the organization have come from unstable living conditions and the agency offers counseling services, child abuse/neglect prevention and treatment, parenting education and family strengthening. The services provide mental and behavioral health and children’s welfare programs to more than 15,000 children and families in the Capital District.
Although the Loudonville Home for Adults usually collects things like canned goods for charitable drives, Executive Director Melissa Brown said she talked to the residents at the home to see what charity they would want to be a part of.
“We really try to talk to our residents to see what they want to do for the community,” Brown said.
She said the residents agreed on donating the teddy bears to the children’s organization.
“Anything for children, especially children that don’t have things or don’t have parents or have been through some abusive situation,” Brown said.
Since the drive started, the donation box has already been filled with more than 100 teddy bears. She said they have mostly been anonymous donations, and also have come from residents’ families, staff and even Build-A-Bear.
“We’re not really looking for any number (of bears). We’re just thankful for whatever we’re able to receive from the community to give back to the children,” she said.
The teddy bears will be distributed on Christmas Day to residential clients at both Parsons and Northeast, according to Beatrice Gioeni, records coordinator at the Department of Quality Management for the agency.
“A lot of kids like stuffed animals,” Gioeni said. “I think it’s more of a comfort thing for the kids that we work with.”
Esther Jasinksi, a 91-year-old resident at the Loudonville Home for Adults, said she’s “very happy” with this year’s donation drive.
“That’s wonderful to give to the kids on Christmas Day. I’m glad to see they’re collecting for the children,” Jasinski said. “Everybody loves teddy bears. Little kids, medium kids, boys, girls, they all love teddy bears.”
Teddy bear donations can be dropped off at the Loudonville Home for Adults at 298 Albany-Shaker Road in Loudonville through Friday, Dec. 14.