Burlington Realty Office Hosts 5th Annual Teddy Bear Drive

BURLINGTON, MA — The fifth annual teddy bear drive to benefit HELPIS, a Burlington based non-profit that helps local families, is underway.

"As this is our 5th year our goal is to put 1,400 teddy bears into the hands of a child fighting a life-threatening illness, entering foster care, dealing with the loss of a parent or facing a significant hardship," Lorie Glantz of Coldwell Banker Realty said.

"We choose to do a teddy bear drive as teddy bears are often a cherished possession because they provide us with a sense of comfort, unconditional love and they are always by our side. Any adorable stuffed animals are welcome as long as they are new, as the doctors require that for safety purposes," Glantz said.

She added that there are a few ways for people to get involved. You can bring any new stuffed animal to the Coldwell Banker Realty office at 202 Cambridge St. in Burlington or drop bears in The Little House of Kindness right outside the office.

You can also make a tax deductible donation to HELPIS directly using a secure GiveButter site here or via Venmo @LorieGlantz.

Glantz said they are asking all bears to be delivered by Feb. 11 so that they can get them to their new homes by Valentine's Day.

HELPIS will distribute the bears to cancer centers in Boston, local shelters, and various local community organizations that help kids in need. Some bears will also be given to local seniors.