Thanks to your generosity, a portion of Sturgeon Bay United Methodist Church looked like Santa’s workshop at the North Pole on Friday. Today was the pick-up date for Door County Toys of Kids, with volunteers collecting donation boxes from area businesses. Volunteers sorted the toys into different categories ahead of Saturday’s distribution event at Sturgeon Bay United Methodist and Sunday’s at Northern Door Children Center in Sister Bay. Door County Toys for Kids Vice President Jackie Baermann says collection day is still an emotional day as she sees the gifts rolling in, knowing the amount of generosity being shown by community members and the faces of over 500 children opening them on Christmas Day. If you missed the donation boxes around the county, you can still bring the toys and other gift items to the church. That is what Sonja Schmitt-Pinney of Sturgeon Bay did on Thursday morning as she donated 65 Beanie Babies to the effort, many of which were teddy bears. She explains the significance of the donation:

I’d like to give a little history to go with my donation to Toys for Kids. The first “teddy bears” go back to President Theodore Roosevelt who was on a hunting trip in 1902 and came upon a small injured suffering bear cub in pain. He said that it should be protected and not shot. That incident was reported in local and national newspapers.  Then soon toy stuffed animals were manufactured to look like that bear cub and were named “Teddy Bears” after our President.  They were given to ease the pain of those who suffer loss, or injury by accident, fire, or illness.

 President Roosevelt was a Mason. On behalf of the Sturgeon Bay Masons and Order of the Eastern Star, I am happy to make this donation of these “Beanie Babies” many of which are teddy bears. They have been stored safely in a plastic tub since the 1990’s when they were manufactured and purchased. I am pleased they will go out into our community that I am happy to call home.

You must be registered with Door County Toys for Kids to participate in the distribution event. Though registration is closed, Baermann says you could contact Door County Toys for Kids to see if you can be included for this year.