Transcript Staff

The Kelsey Briggs chapter of Hugs Across America has organized "Kelsey's September Bears," a second teddy bear drive.

"With our second drive, we are inviting the schools to participate," said chapter co-leader Jamie Gallimore. "Currently, schools in Moore, Oklahoma,?and Colorado are participating. Mustang schools may be joining the drive as well. New John Marshall?High School served as our?inspiration during the first drive in which we collected close to 1,000 teddy bears."?

Teddy bears were provided to victims of the Greensburg, Kan., tornado and victims of the Sweetwater tornado. Both events occurred within the first week the group was in operation.

Gallimore said New John Marshall students, in one week, set up a teddy bear nursery and surpassed their goal of 150 bears by collecting 171.

Any schools interested in helping with the teddy bear drive are asked to contact organizers at kelseyshugs@yahoo.com.?

Teddy bears should be new and 10 to 14 inches in size. Locally, teddy bears are being accepted at?Summit Self Storage, 2100 24th Ave. SE (360-7622).

For more information, contact Gallimore at 366-6233 or via e-mail at kelseyshugs@yahoo.com.