Teddy bear toss helps bring comfort to local shelter

Times Reporter  

 

The Teddy Bear toss, which is a popular hockey fundraiser, came to Strathmore on Dec. 15. The Wheatland Kings played against High River and asked people to bring a teddy with them to toss on the ice after the first goal was scored. The teddy bears were then to be donated to the Community Crisis Society. 

Aaron Durant scored the first goal against High River 26 seconds into the game. Non-perishable food items were also requested as donations at the game for the Strathmore and District Christmas Hamper Society. Anyone who brought a food item unwrapped or $25 gift donation got into the game for free. 

Cheryl McCorrister, one of the child and youth workers at the Crisis Shelter was pleased to see all of the stuffed animals and teddy bears donated.  

“A lot of children are going to get these. The kids that we have in shelter are going to be getting teddy bears and presents and then throughout the year when we have families come to the shelter we like to give every child a new pair of pajamas, a stuffed animal or a teddy bear and a book,” said McCorrister. 

The shelter is a safe haven for those in destructive relationships that need to get away from their partners. For the children it can be a scary time for them when they first arrive at the shelter. They may not understand fully what is going on and any little bit of comfort, such as a teddy, can go a long way to alleviating some of the stress. 

The shelter is a stepping stone to help people get back on their feet, while providing the counseling and support the clients may not get otherwise. 

There are 25 spaces available, and approximately 400 people go through the shelter’s doors each year. Half of those are children. There is a children’s room, a teenager’s room and a type of playroom upstairs where the kids can play while mom is in the kitchen. The counselors try to work with the kids on a number of different issues.

If you would like to donate to the shelter, a wish list can be found on the website at http://wheatland.albertashelters.com, under opportunities.