2,500 Donated Items Heading to Israel in Latest 'Operation Teddy Bear' Mission

As 15 duffel bags full of toys, clothes and games made their way from Bergen County to John F. Kennedy Airport on Sunday, the latest mission for "Operation Teddy Bear" was officially underway.

, and are among the organizations who have helped Claire Ginsburg Goldstein of Bergenfield collect 108,000 toys over the last decade for young Israeli terror victims.

Operation Teddy Bear, also known as Bears from Bergenfield, is sending 2,500 items to Israel from its Fair Lawn, Teaneck, and Ridgewood drop-off locations this week, with a Thursday shipment to follow Sunday's. Ginsburg Goldstein's son Sam came up with the idea to send toys to children in Israel who have been hospitalized by war, and the organization made its first donation on Dec. 26, 2002. Since then, Operation Teddy Bear has distributed toys in Israeli hospitals, residential treatment centers, orphanages, and day treatment facilitites—with the goal of reaching 1,000,000 toys.

Outside of Fair Lawn, Bergen County organizations who have helped Ginsburg Goldstein's cause include Congregation Beth Sholom and Congregation Keter Torah in Teaneck, Temple Israel of Ridgewood, Yeshivat Noam and Frisch High School in Paramus, and Glen Rock Jewish Center.

Individuals and organizations who wish to contribute to Operation Teddy Bear before this week's shipment to Israel—or at another point in the future—can email Claire Ginsburg Goldstein at lgcg98@aol.com or visit bearsfrombergenfield.com.