Kassi Zeigler, branch relationship manager for a Centra Credit Union location in Columbus, gathers plush toys that were stuffed during an all-Centra volunteer event Monday at Brown County Music Center. The toys will be donated as gifts for hospitalized children.
More than 400 Centra Credit Union employees convened for a training day at Brown County Music Center in Nashville on Monday, but part of the day also involved a large-scale service project that gave back to kids in the communities they serve.
The employees volunteered their time and stuffed hundreds of plush toys for the Teddy Bear Love Fund, a nonprofit based in Columbus that provides stuffed plush toys for hospitalized children in several locations around the state.
“This is awesome,” said James Jones, a Centra insurance adviser who took part in Monday’s event. “Anything to give back to sick kids is at the top of my list.”
Across the table from him was mortgage consultant Lynne Coverdale, who finished up an elephant in honor of a niece who loves them. “They make a difference. I know,” Coverdale said of the stuffed animals given to children who are facing serious health issues.
The goal for the Centra employees was to stuff 850 toy bears for the Teddy Bear Love Fund, which distributes the toys to hospitals including Columbus Regional Health, Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, Ascension St. Vincent Jennings in North Vernon and Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, according to Bonnie Shehan, president of the Columbus-based Teddy Bear Love Fund nonprofit.
“This is the one day a year that all of our Centra team comes together for one event, and everyone is doing two stuffings for the Teddy Bear Love Fund,” said Jenny Carr, Centra’s director of community involvement.
“Our team has been really excited and had great feedback” about the event, Carr said.
Centra has locations In Nashville, Columbus, Seymour and elsewhere in central and southern Indiana.
To learn more about the Teddy Bear Love Fund or to donate, visit theteddybearlovefund.org.
