First National’s Project Teddy Bear program committee is pleased to announce that the 2024 holiday season drive collected nearly 500 new stuffed toys for donation to local emergency responders, crisis centers, children’s organizations and local medical facilities.
Since Project Teddy Bear’s inception in 2017, donations have been collected each year from the annual Flivver Hockey Teddy Bear Toss event, followed by continued collecting throughout December. The program makes donations for both Christmastime use and again in January for the responders using the toys year-round in emergency and/or medical situations.
Prior to Christmas, donations were made to Marshfield Medical Center- Dickinson, Caring House and Caring House Child Advocacy Center, Dickinson County Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, U.P. Foster Closet, and the First National Share Your Christmas program.
The January 24 donations included Michigan State Police, Iron Mountain Police and Fire Departments, Pine Mountain Ski Patrol, and Emplify Health by Bellin, as well as additional donations to the Caring House and Caring House Child Advocacy Center, Marshfield Medical Center- Dickinson, and Dickinson County Salvation Army.
“Talking to our local emergency responders and hearing their heartfelt stories about the positive impact of giving a child a stuffed animal in an emergency really reinforces why we created Project Teddy Bear at First National Bank & Trust,” said Matthew Lutz, Chief Financial Officer of First National. “It became especially personal for me when I was in the Emergency Department with my son and saw the joy on his face when he received a stuffed animal.”
Over the last seven years, Project Teddy Bear has donated nearly 3,000 new stuffed toys. The Project Teddy Bear initiative is part of First National’s ongoing dedication to supporting and strengthening our community.
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