Give A Bear During The March Teddy Bear Patrol Campaign

Bartell Drugs, family-owned and operated, and the the nation's oldest drugstore chain, is having its Annual MarchTeddy Bear Patrol campaign through the end of this month.

In collecting teddy bears at all area locations, including the one in the University Village, Bartell Drugs is helping to give "bear hugs" to children in stressful or emergency situations.

"Designed to help bridge the communication gap between a frightened child and an adult stranger, the program puts a teddy bear in the hands of community police departments, hospitals and emergency response teams so they may give the bear to a child involved in a stressful situation," Patti from Bartell Drugs wrote to us in email.

To participate in the campaign, a Teddy Bear can be purchased at Bartells for $7 and Bartells  will then donate a second bear to the campaign, or a monetary donation can be made towards the purchase of a bear, or a new or gently used bear under 12" can be donated.