Whenever a child is involved in a traumatic situation such as a fire, a car accident or other devastating event, they may feel confused, traumatized or scared by the experience. Wanting to provide comfort to children in distressing scenarios, La Posada (a premier senior living community) is hosting a “Teddy Cares” drive from June 10 to July 10, to collect bears they plan on donating to local first responders. These bears will then accompany firefighters on calls so that first responders can hand them out to children who are in the midst of a crisis.

“We want to be a part of serving the greater Palm Beach Gardens community,” said Brad Cadiere, executive director of La Posada. “Through this initiative, we can show some of the youngest members of our community and their families that La Posada cares about their well-being. At La Posada, we embrace The Art of Living Well^® philosophy and giving back to make a difference in the lives of others is a wellness opportunity that strengthens the spirit.”

Residents and associates of La Posada are encouraged to drop off new or like new bears during the duration of the drive. La Posada is opening the drive to the public for one day on July 9. If the public is interested in donating bears, the community requests they drop them off at the front desk of Mallorca at La Posada (11980 San Cristobal Gardens Ave.). A group of residents will deliver the bears at Station 65 (Hood Rd) on July 10, which is recognized nationally as Teddy Bear Picnic Day. In addition to the bears, residents will deliver treats for the firefighters to enjoy. This is their special way of saying thanks for all their hard work keeping the community safe.

“There are many forms of giving back, and we believe we found a unique way to truly make a positive difference on the lives of children by supporting them in times of need,” said Cadiere. “This is also a wonderful opportunity to show our gratitude to first responders for the sacrifices they make daily.”