800 Teddy Bears Donated To San Ramon Valley Group Homes, Shelters

SAN RAMON VALLEY, CA — More than 800 new or like-new teddy bears were donated to local patients, seniors and shelter residents.

The teddy bear donation drive was coordinated by Danville Mayor Renee Morgan and benefited those at area assisted living homes, rehabilitation centers and shelters for children of domestic abuse and human trafficking victims, and to groups such as San Ramon Regional Medical Center, Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area and Meals on Wheels Diablo Region.

For many seniors, hugging a teddy bear was the first hug they'd had in a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Morgan said in an email. It brought tears of joy to recipients' eyes, which Morgan said made her cry, too.

“The ability to show compassion and kindness through an age old toy, is beyond words," she wrote.

Morgan thanked donors for bringing smiles to strangers' faces.

“Know your act of kindness brought joy to so many in a time where a simple hug made a big impact," she wrote.