Teddy-bear drive
aids child-abuse fight
Residents are asked to help collect 3,566 teddy bears -- the number of confirmed child-abuse reports in Hawaii last year -- in the seventh annual Teddy Bear Round-Up.
The drive, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 3 at Pearlridge Center Uptown near the former J.C. Penney's, will highlight a monthlong series of events during Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.
Confirmed child-abuse cases have tripled in Hawaii over the past 20 years, according to Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii.
As many as 40,000 to 50,000 children may be abused or neglected each year in Hawaii, with only 10 percent reported to the state Child Welfare Services, the organization said.
Nationally, more than 3 million children were reported as alleged victims of child abuse or neglect in 2000 and about 1 million reports were confirmed, Prevent Child Abuse America reported.
Three children die each day as a result of abuse or neglect, it said.
Elsie Foster, co-chairwoman of the Teddy Bear Round-Up, said the first step in tackling child abuse is education, to give people alternative ways to relate to children.
"Even if we only help one family, we would have made a difference and possibly saved a child's life," she said.
New or gently used teddy bears or other stuffed animals are sought for distribution statewide to family shelters, children's hospitals and other organizations that help families and children in crisis, she said.
"We were very disappointed that we did not reach our goal last year and we want to be sure to achieve our goal in 2004," Foster said.
The first 1,000 families to donate teddy bears will receive a blue ribbon to promote child-abuse prevention and child-safety information.
Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to preventing child abuse through education, public awareness and advocacy to promote positive parenting and healthy, loving families.
For more information about the Teddy Bear Round-up, child-abuse prevention programs or Child Abuse Prevention Month, call 951-0200.
