A community effort is under way in Georgia for survivors of the Sandy Hook school shootings. Two Connecticut natives who now live in Smyrna decided they had to do something.
Cindy Pitts said that as soon as she heard the news of Friday's shooting, she rushed to Nina Sonsini's store, Then Again Consignments.
"We just embraced and started crying. We're both from Connecticut and I was standing there and I'm thinking …what can I do? What would be great and, so I just thought ‘teddy bear,'" Pitts said.
The grassroots effort started Friday night with three donation sites -- one at Pitts' home, another at Sonsini's store and another in Carrollton. The goal was to get 450 teddy bears -- one for every child at Sandy Hook. They've already surpassed their goal. "I want them to smile. I want them to smile again and know that people do care and love them," Pitts said.
Allyson Neal and her kids dropped off a garbage bag full of teddy bears on Wednesday.
"It's something they can hold on to and keep forever," said Myra Neal.
Pitts said that the goal is to get the bears into the hands of Sandy Hook students after the first of the year when they return to school, but she said that there may be a snag.
"Red Cross has a drop-off center but can't guarantee any type of delivery to the children, so they said perhaps we would have to wait five or six months before they were distributed," Pitts said.
One of Cindy's friends will be paying for the shipping to Connecticut. But the problem is that there's no one on the other end to pick them up and to distribute them.
Despite reaching their goal, they are still collecting bears and stuffed animals until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday.
Bears and letters are being collected at the following locations until 5pm on Thursday:
Sterling Engineering and Fabrication (sponsoring shipping) 101 Performance Way Carrollton, GA 30117
Then Again Consignments 3988 Atlanta Road Smyrna, GA 30080
Monday, December 17 2012 9:22 AM EST2012-12-17 14:22:54 GMT
The tragedy that took place in Newtown, Connecticut on Friday is hard for adults to process, but it's even worse for children.
The tragedy that took place in Newtown, Connecticut on Friday is hard for adults to process, but it's even worse for children. Some parents spent their weekend trying to figure out how to discuss the shootings with their kids, and those talks will likely continue.
Monday, April 8 2013 12:51 PM EDT2013-04-08 16:51:11 GMT
The schoolchildren are remembered for their love of horses, or for the games they couldn't get enough of, or for always saying grace at dinner. The adult victims found their life's work in sheltering little ones.
The schoolchildren are remembered for their love of horses, or for the games they couldn't get enough of, or for always saying grace at dinner. The adult victims found their life's work in sheltering little ones.
Monday, December 17 2012 7:24 PM EST2012-12-18 00:24:59 GMT
The U.S. Postal Service has set up a special post office box for people to send letters of condolence to the Newtown, Conn. community shaken by Friday's deadly shooting.
The U.S. Postal Service has set up a special post office box for people to send letters of condolence to the Newtown, Conn. community shaken by Friday's deadly shooting.
Sunday, December 16 2012 5:12 PM EST2012-12-16 22:12:13 GMT
Pope Benedict XVI told pilgrims and tourists in St. Peter's Square on Sunday that he is praying for the families of the 20 children and six adults who were killed during a shooting rampage.
Pope Benedict XVI told pilgrims and tourists in St. Peter's Square on Sunday that he is praying for the families of the 20 children and six adults who were killed during a shooting rampage.
Saturday, December 15 2012 7:35 PM EST2012-12-16 00:35:51 GMT
Investigators tried to figure out what led a bright but painfully awkward 20-year-old to slaughter 26 children and adults at a Connecticut elementary school.
Investigators tried to figure out what led a bright but painfully awkward 20-year-old to slaughter 26 children and adults at a Connecticut elementary school.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:04 AM EDT2013-05-22 11:04:40 GMT
Authorities have canceled an Amber Alert for a 1-year-old girl after she was found safe.
Authorities have canceled an Amber Alert for a 1-year-old girl after she was found safe. They say 1-year-old Annya Buchannon was in the back of a car that was stolen just after midnight from the Playskool Daycare on Conley Road in Forest Park.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:48 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:48:00 GMT
Local families are taking a serious look at storm shelters in the aftermath of Monday's deadly tornado in Oklahoma.
Local families are taking a serious look at storm shelters in the aftermath of Monday's deadly tornado in Oklahoma. Those shelters could mean the difference between life and death when faced with one of these powerful storms.
A federal court has struck down Fayette County's at-large method of electing members to certain county offices, saying the method was a violation of the Voting Rights Act.
A federal court has struck down Fayette County's at-large method of electing members to certain county offices, saying the method was a violation of the Voting Rights Act.
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