Tres Pinos schoolchildren are taking a stand against the effects of widespread fires one teddy bear, frog and unicorn at a time.
Starting Wednesday, volunteers began a campaign to collect stuffed animal donations for children affected by the Valley and Butte fires in Lake and Calaveras counties. The fires each consumed more than 70,000 acres and threatened thousands of structures in Northern California, according to the Calfire website. Neither fire was contained by Friday afternoon.
“These children have lost everything and the kids from Tres Pinos School and the Hollister community want to give back a gift to support those children affected,” Toni Matthews wrote in a Facebook message to the Hollister Free Lance.
The Red Cross and Salvation Army were asking for monetary donations, which spurred the project to collect teddy bears and other plush, stuffed animals.
“Police carry teddy bears to comfort children in traumatic situations,” Matthews wrote. “And the kids liked the idea of helping others that lost everything including their favorite toys.”
Donations will be collected at the Rabobank at 1730 Airline Highway; the Hollister Fire Department’s Station at 110 Fifth St.; the Hollister Police Department at 395 Apollo Way; and at Tres Pinos School at 5635 Airline Highway.
Volunteers are collecting toys in “new” or “like new” condition. Matthews will transport the donations to members of the Napa Search and Rescue, who will bring the toys to shelters where victims are being supported, according to the Facebook message.
FIRE UPDATES
The Butte fire has burned 70,760 acres, threatened 6,400 structures and was just 60 percent contained Friday morning, according to the Calfire website. The Valley Fire has burned 73,700 acres, threatened 7,473 structures and was just 40 percent contained, according to the website.
