Less than two weeks remain in Lone Star College-University Park’s 911 Bears campaign to collect more than 1,000 new teddy bears to donate to local law enforcement agencies.

The drive ends on Friday, Dec. 4. Bears may be dropped off in collection boxes in the parking garage entrance lobby on the second floor at LSC-University Park, 20515 State Highway 249, or at local YMCAs.

Christina Robinson, Chief Strategist for Innovation, said more than 700 bears have been received so far.

“We really appreciate the community’s generosity,” Robinson said. “These bears have the potential to bring great comfort to children when they need it most.”

Bears will ride in squad cars until they are needed. When officers encounter stressful situations involving children, they will have the stuffed animals on-hand to give to the children.

The college began collecting bears last month, receiving about 300 bears from graduating cadets and their families at the Lone Star College Law Enforcement Academy’s October commencement ceremony. Northwest Digital Works has donated 288 custom bears.

Sponsors of the 911 Bear project include the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District Police Department; Harris County Precincts 4 and 5; Hewlett Packard Enterprises; Kay Jewelers; Klein ISD Police Department; Leadership North Houston; LSC Law Enforcement Academy; LSC Police Department; LSC System Office at University Park; LSC-University Park Professional and Support Staff Association, Education Department, Teachers2Be club, Criminal Justice Department, Justice Agents of Change club and Phi Theta Kappa honor society; Northwest Digital Works; Union Pacific; University of Houston Northwest Campus; University of Houston-Downtown Northwest and its Departments of Education and Criminal Justice; University of Phoenix; and the YMCA of Greater Houston.

For more information about the project, call 281-290-2780 or email 911Bear@LoneStar.edu.