Members of the BeKind UNM committee and the Lobo men’s basketball team delivered teddy bears and other toys to Albuquerque Police Chief Michael Geier and area commanders last week as part of the BeKind UNM initiative. The bears will be kept in APD patrol cars to be given to children in traumatic situations to help ease some of the stress.
The bears are distributed throughout the year on patrols and calls and also put in gift baskets for families at Christmas time. Geier says that officers on calls, involving children, are able to go out to their cars and come back to the family with bears and toys—making a lasting memory for that family.
The teddy bears and other toys were collected during events held on The University of New Mexico campus and at Lobo basketball games during the month of February. All tolled, over 300 bears and other toys were donated.
“The teddy bear drive is a great way to give back to the community through kindness,” said Kim Kloeppel, chief operations officer, UNM Division of Student Affairs, and BeKind UNM committee chair. “We are proud to help the Albuquerque Police Department to make a positive impact on even more kids.”
For more information on the BeKind UNM initiative visit their website and facebook pages.