To donate teddy bears on behalf of Taylor Shepard’s birthday, email Susan Shepard at seelmore@gmail.com
To volunteer with the American Red Cross- Georgia Chapter: 404-876-3302.
When you’re a young child how do you make a difference in your community? Taylor Shepard of Peachtree Corners has a plan.
Every year for her birthday, her parents would donate the amount of toys equal to her age. This year, when the family moved, her toys had already been sorted and donated. After learning about the Red Cross’ need for teddy bears from her mom’s close friend, the seven-year-old was inspired to give back to the children affected by disasters continuing the family tradition.
As families lose many of their possessions during disasters, it also includes children losing their toys. Along with food, clothing, shelter and other essentials for their families, American Red Cross also provides stuffed animals to disaster-stricken children.
According to Georgia’s American Red Cross CEO Terri Badour-Duckett, the nonprofit responds to an average of three house fires every evening.
Shepard requested that instead of gifts, guests to her birthday party bring new teddy bears.
But even before her party, which was on July 26, the local community rallied to collect over 400 bears for the Red Cross and Taylor’s birthday. Her goal is to collect 700 bears to also commemorate the 100th birthday of the American Red Cross.
“We noticed Taylor had a very caring spirit in her and we have made sure to continue fostering that,” said her mother Susan Shepard. “It is also important for us to make sure that these are Taylor’s ideas and thoughts, and solely her projects to give back.”
The young girl also delivered Valentine’s Day cards to children at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Overall, the Red Cross is always looking for volunteers in front lines of a disaster to behind-the-scenes office support to continue forth with its mission.
“For Taylor to think of the Red Cross to give back to for her birthday, it means the world to us,” Badour- Duckett said. “There are going to be a lot of children who are going to benefit from her big heart.”
In other news: To help deserving children start school on the right foot, the Office Depot Foundation donated 5,000 colorful new sackpacks containing essential school supplies to nonprofit organizations, schools and agencies in the Atlanta area. The Foundation made the donations during a special Back-to-School Celebration July 23 at the OfficeMax store located near Cumberland Mall. In 2014, the foundation will donate 350,000 sackpacks to children across the U.S. and other countries through its National Backpack Program. During the past seven years, this initiative has made a difference to more than 32,000 kids.
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