AMERICAN FORK, Utah - The Bank of American Fork is dealing with a bear invasion as part of the holiday season.
A mountain of stuffed bears were given to four local family support centers on Thursday to make the holidays a little brighter for children in need.
"To me this is a great testament to the spirit of the communities we live in that you've taken the time and effort to donate to these families and children who are in need," said Richard Beard, Bank of American Fork President and CEO.
The stuffed bears were donated by employees, customers and other members of the community. Beard says the donations have become an annual tradition for community members.
"Most of the people who do this have done it for years. It becomes a part of the Christmas tradition and they really seem to enjoy the process of giving back with no thought of themselves. We're grateful that people are that generous," Beard said.
The support centers will use the bears for play therapy and to provide comfort for kids in crisis. More than 8,000 stuffed animals were donated to the cause this year.
