As the holiday season quickly approaches students have many opportunities to donate to their surrounding communities. The holiday season is a time for giving to those in need, if you are fortunate enough to be able to do so.

Washburn University’s Alpha Phi is collecting teddy bears from November 26^th until November 30.  All of the new teddy bears will be donated to the cardiovascular surgery unit at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo.

“We decided to have a teddy bear drive because we wanted to have a service event that benefited someone other than our philanthropy (heart health and the Alpha Phi Foundation),” said Katelyn Eshelman. “Since we have an entire week in February designated for that, we decided to donate the bears to Children’s Mercy Hospital in the cardiovascular surgery unit since our philanthropy relates to heart health.”

The teddy bear drive is a simple way for students to give a little to their community. Students may drop off the donations at the Alpha Phi house or at the Alpha Phi table in the Memorial Union from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the donation period.

“Our flyer says only new bears because Children’s Mercy only accepts new animals to be cautious of infection,” said Eshelman. “We are accepting used animals that will be donated to the Topeka Rescue Mission. We are accepting monetary donations as well.”

For more information check out the Facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/471597109559831/permalink/471597116226497/