Be Part of the Hershey Bears Drive-Thru Teddy Bear Toss

Be Part of the Hershey Bears Drive-Thru Teddy Bear Toss

Although the annual tradition may look a little different this year, theHershey Bears hockey club is pleased to host the GIANT Drive-Thru Teddy Bear Toss & Food Drive on Saturday, January 23, 2021! Fans are invited to bring new or gently used plush and non-perishable food items to GIANT Center where event participants can safely toss stuffed animals into bins along the plaza of the building. The event will take place from 10 am to 2 pm.

All guests and team members attending the event are required to wear face coverings during the Teddy Bear Toss. Guests are asked to enter through the GIANT Center parking booths and to follow the directional signage for the event to enter the appropriate parking lot entrance. Drop-off stations will be staggered along the Plaza with employees assisting event participants. All guests are asked to remain in their vehicles to ensure safety protocols are followed and social distancing enforced.

Local organizations and the children they serve will benefit from the generosity of our fans:

• Life Center Ministries
• Elstonville Motorcycle Club, behalf of Manheim VFW
• Palmyra Lions Club
• Dauphin County Children & Youth
• Cocoa Packs
• Marysville Fire Department
• Autism Society of Greater Harrisburg Area
• Riley's Toys Foundation

New this year, the team is partnering with GIANT Food Stores to collect non-perishable food items. All food items collected at the event will be donated to the Central PA Food Bank during a time when community members experiencing food insecurities have greatly increased. Any non-perishable food items will be accepted, but the organization reports a greater need for these items:

• Peanut butter
• Canned soup and stew
• Canned fruit and vegetables
• Canned fish
• Canned beans
• Pasta (whole grain if preferred)
• Rice (brown rice is preferred).

During the 2019-20 season, Bears' fans set a world record by throwing 45,650 plush items onto the ice after the team scored its first goal of the game. That record earned global attention and surpassed the previous season's record of 34,798 bears collected. This event is part of the team's ongoing Hershey Bears Cares initiative showcasing the philanthropic activities and volunteer efforts of our players and staff members throughout the community. For more than 83 years, the Hershey Bears have been active in the community and value giving back to Hershey and surrounding areas.

Thank you to our fans and community members for making this one of the best events of the year and helping so many people!