Most years, SUNY Oswego’s Teddy Bear Toss at Laker men’s and women’s hockey games bring a shower of stuffed animals to support local families in need via Toys for Tots and the United Way of Greater Oswego County.
But with no hockey games this season due to the pandemic, the college’s State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA) committee and the teams had to get creative. With assists from the campus and the community, the first-ever Virtual Teddy Bear Toss has moved closer to its goal.
Even without the usual tradition—throwing hundreds of stuffed animals on the ice after the Lakers scored their first goals—the community clearly still wanted to support the cause. Men’s hockey coach Ed Gosek and women’s hockey coach Mark Digby hosted a drive-thru event on December 4 that netted 133 bears, 150 toys overall, and $850 in donations toward the cause. Total collection as of December 7 is more than 200 toys, plus $2,540 in monetary donations.
The student-run TV station WTOP-10 TV pitched in by working with hockey alumni for a fun promo video that brought support via social media.
To buy a bear and/or make a donation, visit SEFA’s Teddy Bear Toss website.
