Close to 4,000 Stuffed Animals Donated by the Rockford IceHogs

The annual Teddy Bear Toss game with the Rockford IceHogs was December 9th and nearly 4,000 stuffed animals were donated. I should know I helped collect them from the ice and then count them. It's a real pain when you lose count too, let me tell you. But to see that kind of generosity from the community is pretty rad!

Now these stuffed animals are making there way out to the community. Three Rockford IceHogs players took three bags of these toys to Mercyhealth's pediatric unit. There they handed them out to patients, visited with them, and even signed some autographs.

One of the players taking the stuffed animals to the children was IceHogs Forward Graham Knott. He had this to say about bringing the toys to the kids,"It's nice to put a smile on a kids' face,  they're going through a rough time, and just kinda getting to know them and kinda making them feel happy, and bringing joy to their day".

SwedishAmerican Hospital also received three bags full of stuffed animals.  The rest of the toys will be giving to other local charities.