“Lions and tigers and bears, oh my,” is what Dorothy chanted as she was walking through the Land of Oz.
Had she known they were stuffed she would have opened her arms and her heart to the cuddly animals that were made for hugs.
At least that was the case for Alpha Xi Delta as they kicked off they second annual Teddy Bear Drive on Saturday with the help of the Athletic Department.
On March 1, the group gave away over 100 tickets to children in the community to see the ETSU Buccaneers basketball team play and sign autographs after the game.
Parents were able to get tickets discounted by $5 for donating stuffed animals or teddy bears.
“We are hoping that this will be a big success,” Kelly Holdway, public relations person for Alpha Xi Delta said before the game. “This is our first year doing the basketball game.”
The group feels that this year there will be more donations because of more publicity and help from Greek and non-Greek organizations as well as the involvement of the community.
For each organization that participates Volunteer ETSU will give that individual group credit for service hours.
“Also, another reason why I feel we will get more donations is because alumni Devin White sent out e-mails to the faculty,” said Chelsie Gregory, contact person for Alpha Xi Delta.
For the entire month of March, the organization’s purpose is to get donations of stuffed animals to their philanthropy, which is children.
The theme Teddy Bear comes from Alpha Xi Delta’s mascot that incorporates charity events.
All bears and stuffed animals donated will go to the Kingsport Police Department for the Battered Women’s Center and other local children’s organizations.
“Last year Kingsport not only gave bears to children who had been in wrecks or taken from their home but adults as well,” Holdway said.
Boxes for donations have been set up in the Culp Center on the first floor in front of the Center for Student Life and Leadership and in the Panhellenic Residence Hall.
For more information, call Alpha Xi Delta at 439-7445.

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