Cleveland Heights - University Heights City School District

Teddy bears make kids feel good, and that’s why students at Noble Elementary collected stuffed toys for Providence House, the nation’s oldest Crisis Nursery committed to child abuse prevention and family preservation.

The students reached their goal of collecting 1,000 new or “like new” stuffed animals, and Cleveland Heights Mayor Ed Kelley joined the students at Noble on December 21 to celebrate the successful toy drive. “Everyone is here to photograph me, but it is really not about me, it is about these kids and what they accomplished,” Mayor Kelley said. In his speech, Mayor Kelley said to Noble Elementary students that it was great that during a time of receiving the kids were able to stop and give to others who had very little. At the end of the holiday celebration, students lined up to “bury” Mayor Kelley in collected stuffed animal toys. The stuffed animals were delivered to Providence House on December 22.

Fifth grade teacher Sean Sullivan led the bear drive. It started at Oxford Elementary and moved to Noble Elementary when he changed schools. “Oxford Elementary holds the record; we collected 3,042 stuffed animals in 2008! This is my first year at Noble, and 1000+ animals is a great start.”  Sullivan continued, “I feel it is important for our students to have an opportunity to participate in community service projects. My hope is that they will someday take on a project/service of their own that will help others.” 

Providence House is located in Cleveland. The children who reside at Providence House have experienced homelessness, abuse or neglect, medical or mental health crisis, and/or domestic violence. Every child at Providence House receives a stuffed animal toy upon arrival.

Watch video at Cleveland Heights Patch

Students measure the stuffed animals before adding them to the collection.			Back row: 5th grade teachers Sean Sullivan, Julia Ruddy, Jazmine Davis, and Principal Rachael Coleman Middle row: Patricia Chen, Malin Gaines, Ayasha Rasheed, and Tessa Green Front row: Evelyn Wellman and Eloni McClain

First grader Eloni McClain is about as big as the large pink stuffed toy behind her.