Calling all stuffies

Times Reporter

 

People who have a love for furry, stuffed animals are in for a treat when Strathmore’s first annual Teddy Bear picnic comes to town on May 28. Elisa Maxwell, owner of Hidden Secrets, and Rocky Blokland of Rocky’s Bakery have partnered together to bring the picnic to Strathmore.

“The intention is to get kids to bring their teddy bears, any bears, stuffed animals, and for kids that don’t have them we can certainly accommodate them in here,” said Blokland. 

“Both of us like teddy bears, she sells them and has them too, and I’ve got a house full of them, and a bakery full of them.”

May 19 is National Teddy Bear Day. The reason the duo picked the 28 is because their schedules don’t allow them to celebrate on the day of, but it is still in recognition of National Teddy Bear Day.  

“Anyone who brings a teddy bear down will be able to enter their name, and their teddy bear’s name into a draw box…and we’re going to invite Mayor Steve to come do a draw for that,” said Maxwell.

“This year it’ll be fairly small, but maybe if the response is really good – who knows, two, three years from now – maybe it’ll be a full out teddy bears picnic in the park.” 

There will be a tent set up outside of the stores in the parking stalls so all of the kids will be on the sidewalk. There will be sidewalk chalk, and hopefully a face painter.  Shepherd has the paint but doesn’t have the time to do the face painting, so they are looking for someone to volunteer to help. 

The Strathmore Fire Department will be there with their ladder truck, and Yogi Bear will be there as well.  

“If anybody needs an ambulance, we do actually have an ambulance that’s going to be down here to put the bandages and so forth on the teddy bears,” said Maxwell. 

“So far the response on this has just been fantastic. Everyone is just so excited about it, and so are we. We’re telling people bring their stuffies down and have lunch, and just have fun.” 

For those who don’t have a teddy bear, or maybe wants a new one, they can make a bear at Hidden Secrets. $1 from the sale of a large make a bear will go the United Way. The net profits from the day will be going to the United Way Strathmore. 

“The United Way keeps it local, and then they divide it up amongst the different places that need it. So it’s kind of nice because it will be shooting off in all directions and the big thing for us is, it keeps it local,” said Maxwell.  

The picnic is set to begin at noon, rain or shine, on May 28. If it’s raining Maxwell and Blokland will host the picnic in their stores.