Article Contributed on: 11/11/2006 10:22:13 PM
Two years ago, then 10-yr old
Kinsey Morley (pictured here with bears) read a story entitled "Trash Bags are for Trash" in Chicken Soup for the Pre-Teen Soul that inspired her to change our 5- year old program of Teddy Bear Hugs into Bags & Bears.
For the previous 5 years, our members brought in new stuffed Teddy Bears one month before Christmas, which we hugged and loved for a month before donating them to the counseling center at the Gateway Center for Battered Women. Kinsey came to Senior Minister,
Rev. S. Tucker two years ago, asking if we could provide the bears in rolling back packs for the kids. Rev. Tucker suggested we open it to any kind of suitcase or back pack and the ball began to roll. Oasis Center For Spiritual Living delivered 100 bags and teddy bears to Gateway last Christmas.
When the idea was presented to Gateway, spokesperson for Gateway said "You have no idea how important these bags are for the women and kids in our program. They need to keep a bag packed at all times in case they need to flee, and these bags provide them with what they need to do that." Kinsey was very happy her idea made a difference.
The goal for this year is 1,000 bags and bears. Suitcases, backpacks and new Teddy Bears can be delivered to Oasis Center for Spiritual Living at 9940 East Costilla Avenue (1 block south and 4 blocks east of I-25 and Arapahoe Road) in Centennial through December 17th, 2006. For more information, please call Rev. Tucker at (303) 662-1505.