The girls in the Tumbleweeds Service Unit in Hutchinson want to make the world a better place for children who have experienced a tragic event and provide them some comfort during times of trauma. That's why they are holding a Teddy Bear-a -Thon on Saturday, Nov. 14th, 2009 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hutchinson Recreation Building at 15 E. 1st Ave. in Hutchinson.

All area Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and members of the community are invited to participate in this event. Participating Scouts will dress the bears in hand-made Boy Scout and Girl Scout uniforms and donate them to local organizations such as the Emergency Children's Shelter, the Women's Shelter and many other similar charities.

The community is invited to get involved by purchasing teddy bears for the event. The Hutchinson Wal-Mart has teamed up with the Bear-a-Thon project and they have ordered 300 bears for the project. The bears are available in the toy department and can be purchased for $5. There will be donation bins near the Customer Service department to collect the bears. Bears may also be brought to the Bear-a-Thon event.

Bear-a-Thon:
Hutchinson Recreation Building
15 E. 1st Avenue, Hutchinson, Kansas
Saturday, Nov. 14th, 2009 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Troops or individuals may bring a new bear to donate and one for them to decorate at the Bear-a-Thon. There will be stations for participants to cut and assemble uniforms to dress the bears before they are donated to the children at the shelters.

Kits with fabric, patterns, instructions, and a logo stamp will be available for troops who would like to make the uniforms for their bears during a troop meeting.