One fact of life is that children get older and quickly outgrow shoes and shirts. And even beloved toys.

One Indianapolis-area mom faced that reality recently in her daughter’s bedroom: The giant teddy bear who had watched over her daughter for years as she played and slept and dreamed about her future had been supplanted by new friends and new interests.

So, what to do with an old but still special companion?

The mom had a thought – some would say an inspired thought – about calling Shepherd Community Center to ask if her daughter’s teddy bear could somehow bless a new generation of children.

That’s when Kyndra Green, a development associate at Shepherd, entered the story. Green learned about the potential donation and had her own inspired thought: The kids who attend Shepherd Neighborhood Childcare at the Minnie Hartmann Center would love the giant but gentle bear.

“Diana (Reed, director of the childcare center) immediately knew that she wanted the teddy bear and how she would use it,” Green said. “She wanted to put it in the hallway by the entrance where the children walk in every morning, and she already had ideas of dressing it up for different holidays.”

And so, the old bear found a new home. And a new batch of young friends.

“I was at Minnie Hartmann dropping something off last week and saw the bear in the hallway corner,” Green said. “I asked Diana about it. She shared that there are children who hug it before they leave every day and that it has put a smile on many children’s faces and on her own face.”

Gifts that bless a child come in many forms. Sometimes it’s the donation of a good meal at Thanksgiving. Sometimes it’s a present to share at Shepherd’s annual Christmas Store.

And sometimes it’s an old teddy bear who still has plenty of love to share.

How can you help? Find out by contacting Shepherd at shephedcommunity.org/give.