Teddy Bears for Newtown

I am a new member of this community, Our kids have only attended Head O Meadow school for just over a month now. We chose this community for it's reputation of being supportive, safe, and family oriented. We left many friends and family behind in Upstate New York.

As the events of Friday's tradgedy unfolded, we recieved many calls, e-mails, and facebook posts froms friends and families. As I was talking with mom of one of my friends sons, she told me this friend wanted to do something for my son and his class to help ease the pain and fear instilled by the tradgedy. We agreed that a Teddy bear Drive would be a good idea, so we could give the kids something tangible to hold and hug and snuggle to find comfort in.

Saturday morning she set up a facebook event and invited nearly 200 friends. by the time I sent it out to additional friends we were near 300. My 9 year old daughter began e-mailling her friends and teacher from her school in NY as well. By Sunday morning we had the event passed on to nearly 2500 attendees. By Sunday evening we are over 5000 and still climbing. we have bears coming from all over the US and even overseas. It's amazing the overwhelming response we have had. Local businesses in the Souther Tier of Upstate New York are making donations, and offering to be drop off points for bears.

The initial idea was to have 4 schools districts from where we are from collect and donate to each of the 4 elementary schools in Newtown. each school adopting a school. It has grown so much larger than that. we expect to collect more than enough bears for all the children in Newtown.

It is truly amazing, how the innocence of one 7 Year Old boy wanting to comfort others, has grown into such a huge movement of love and compassion for the children of Newtown, and the victims of this terrible tradgedy.