This article was posted with written permission from Chris Merle, Executive Editor of the Pocono Record.
April drive by ESU fraternities nets 500 stuffed animals
The seven fraternities at East Stroudsburg University, Delta Chi, Phi Sigma Kappa, Sigma Pi, Theta Chi, Kappa Alpha Psi, Kappa Delta Rho and Lambda Sigma Upsilon, joined with the members of J. Simpson Africa Lodge 628 of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania for the "Teddies For Tykes." The month-long stuffed animal donation drive was the first ever fraternal collaboration program of its kind in the area.
The stuffed animal drive took place through the entire month of April at various locations in the greater Stroudsburg and East Stroudsburg area. The store locations included ShopRite, Pocono Medical Center, Pocono YMCA, Stroud Mall, Big Wheel Roller Skate Center, Five Below, SkyLanes Bowling Center, East Stroudsburg American Legion, ESU and Rimrock Masonic Center.
The fraternal organizations created the drive to assist local police, fire and emergency medical technician stations that lack strong donation support. The program was designed to augment programs held by the emergency organizations.
The reason for these programs is to enable a first responder to give something to a child or children at the scene of a fire, domestic dispute or other traumatic experience in hopes of comforting them to make it less frightening. Often times, these stuffed animals are the only thing a child might have to comfort them for a period of time.
In all, about 500 stuffed animals were donated in just under a month. Monetary donations also were given by businesses to purchase additional stuffed animals.
The ESU fraternities and members of J. Simpson Africa Lodge said that without the widespread support of the community, this program would not have had the success that it had in such a short time period. In particular, they are thankful to all of the businesses that allowed them to place collection bins.
Through a large variety of North American Masonic organizations, such as the Shriners, about $3,000,000 is given as charity every day, 70 percent of which benefits the general public.
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