Mentor Residents, Businesses Collecting Teddy Bears For Sandy Hook Elementary Students

Mentor residents and at least one local business are collecting new teddy bears for the families .

The teddy bears can be dropped off at any of the five Mentor Fire Stations or the Willoughby Fire Department's main station.

Volunteers will then get the teddy bears to Sandy Hook so they can be given to the students when they return from winter break.

Erie Optical is also collecting teddy bears for the Sandy Hook students. They can be dropped off at their office on 8900 Mentor Ave. during regular hours.

A complete list of dropoff spots is available on Bear Huggs from Heaven's Facebook event and group pages.

Children are also invited to include drawings and even their addresses along with their gifts so they can, perhaps, become pen pals with the children of Sandy Hook, said Colleen Durant who is the president of Bear Huggs.

Anyone who wants to help with wrapping the presents can volunteer on the Facebook pages.

Additionally, if you are looking for other ways to help the families impacted by the Newtown shooting, check donations may be mailed to: 

Sandy Hook School Support Fund
c/o Newtown Savings Bank
39 Main Street, Newtown CT  06470

If you have questions on the fund, you may call 800-461-0672.