CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Teddy bears will fly onto the ice at the Eastlink Centre on Friday when the Charlottetown Islanders score their first goal.
The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League squad is teaming up with the Child and Family Services of P.E.I. and the Charlottetown Police Department for the annual Teddy Bear Toss game against the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
Fans are encouraged to bring a teddy bear or stuffed animal to the game to take part in the event.
The teddy bears will be collected and split between the Child and Family Services of P.E.I. and the Charlottetown Police Department and distributed across the Island.
Both organizations often gift a teddy bear or stuffed animal to children in need, but with the holiday season just around the corner, they were running low, and fast. To re-stock their shelves, family services director Rona Smith and Teddy Love co-ordinator Sara Townsend reached out to the hockey team for help.
“Oftentimes, as a child, a teddy bear is a friend you can tell anything to, a friend that is always there when needed.”
-Rona Smith, family services director
Smith said something as simple as a teddy bear can make a world of difference for a child.
“It just lights up the world for the children,” said Smith. “Oftentimes, as a child, a teddy bear is a friend you can tell anything to, a friend that is always there when needed.”
The stuffed animals are important, but this event stretches well beyond donations, added Smith.
“The players may not know it, but they are idols to a lot of our children who have to leave their homes to be safe. Having these hockey players supporting us and working with us shows the children that there are people out there working for them and that they are valued.”
Townsend has been involved with the Teddy Love campaign since it started in the basement of Central Christian Church.
"We were just collecting teddies in a church basement and soon it turned into a partnership like this," said Townsend. "It’s nice to see a team, like the Islanders, lend a hand even though they are getting very little in return.”
The Teddy Love program has collected many teddy bears over the years, but it was time to evolve, said Townsend.
"This evolution brings two major players involved with the safety of children together in a truly united way at Christmas."
