Law enforcement-sponsored teddy bear drive kicks off

An annual teddy bear drive benefiting patients at Rady Children’s Hospital and involving nearly two dozen law enforcement agencies across the county will kick-off Tuesday.

To celebrate the launch of this year’s effort, people who take a new stuffed animal to any local Chick-fil-A restaurant between 5 and 7 p.m. will receive either a free chicken sandwich meal or a chicken nuggets kid’s meal, organizers said.

Patrol vehicles and equipment will be on display at some restaurant locations.

The teddy bear drive will run through Dec. 5, when law enforcement officers will deliver the donated stuffed animals to Rady Children’s Hospital. Officers will visit patients in various hospital units, offering children a fluffy animal.

“The stuffed teddy bear donations go a long way to support and give comfort to some really great children receiving care at the hospital,” said Matt Hughes, franchise operator of the Sports Arena Chick-fil-A location.

There are 12 Chick-fil-A locations in the county, including in Chula Vista, Encinitas, Oceanside, San Marcos, La Mesa, Santee, Escondido and San Diego. For information about the locations, visit www.cfsandiego.com.

Since it began in 1990, the San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Teddy Bear Drive has grown to involve 23 law enforcement agencies that collect upwards of 50,000 bears annually, organizers said.

Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com

Phone: (619) 293-1876

Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez