By Melissa Plowman
Soft, cuddly and adorable. Giving up a free plush Christmas bear after spending over $100 at the BYU Bookstore doesn?t appear to be the best option, but when children are involved it is.
?Ill or injured children at Christmastime and abused or neglected children at Christmastime ? does anyone need more of a reason to donate?? said Linda Brummett, manager of the general book department at the Bookstore. ?And all of the bears are used and loved and appreciated.?
Since 2002, the Bookstore has held a two-week Christmas bear promotion by donating hundreds of plush bears to four different organizations. When a customer purchases $100 or more at the Bookstore, they have the choice of donating the toy to either the Pediatrics Unit at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center or to the Children?s Justice Center. The Bookstore also sets aside bears for the University Police Department and the Children?s Cancer Christmas Foundation.
?The paramedics keep the bears in the ambulances to comfort the children,? said Kaylene Vest, the Bookstore?s marketing specialist. ?Also, the bears are given to children coming from abused homes.?
This year?s promotion began on Nov. 21 and runs through Dec. 3. In the first hour, a couple of bears were donated and on the second day, the numbers increased to a couple of dozen, Symons said.
As the popularity of the stuffed animal escalates every year, the Bookstore continues to order more merchandise. Compared to the first year?s 1,000 bears, a couple thousand were bought this year. But the Bookstore always runs out on the last day, Symons said.
Along with the growing popularity, the giveaway idea also grew from nothing into something.
?The use of the promotional bear giveaway to customers was presented to the group [in a store management meeting] by our director, Roger Reynolds,? Brummett said. ?I then made the comment that perhaps every customer wouldn?t want a bear and suggested the option of donating.?
Roger Reynolds, director of the Bookstore, said they have continued the program because so many customers have indicated their love for the 18-inch animal.
?Our customers are some of the most giving people around because they love donating the Christmas bears to the children?s charity programs we have partnered with,? Reynolds said. ?Many of these children are either sick or abused, and one of these Christmas Bears gives them comfort and peace.?
