CREDIT: KATHLEEN LOPEZ, PROVIDED BY HAILEY BARNES.
The public safety fundamentals students are collecting brand new teddy bears and other stuffed animals, along with cash donations, until Nov. 26 in Oasis.

Students in the public safety fundamentals program (PSF) at Fanshawe College want their fellow Falcons to give back.

The students’ Second Annual Teddy Bear Drive kicked off Oct. 24 and will run until Nov. 26 in Oasis. Brand new stuffed animals and cash donations are accepted and will be donated to the Children’s Hospital, London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC).

Carson Stirling, event head of the Teddy Bear Drive, said that since students in the PSF program like himself need to collect 20 volunteer hours as part of the program, their professor said they could either get those hours individually or as a group.

“She recommended that we could all participate and get all of our volunteer hours together,” Stirling said. “So the class eventually decided to come together and put together the Second Annual Teddy Bear Drive.”

Stirling said last year’s event had a positive reception and CTV News London covered it. He estimated about 350 stuffed animals were donated last year, and hopes Fanshawe students give back.

“It’s a fantastic cause. It helps sick kids who are currently admitted at the hospital and probably aren’t having a great time right now,” Stirling said. “So this really shows that we care and we’re thinking about them and just help give them some comfort through most definitely some troubling times for them.”

Donations can be dropped off at Oasis in SC Building on Mondays from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.