Deb Townsend handmade more than 100 teddy bears for each of the first grade students at Pleasant View Elementary and delivered them recently. “Townsend calls the bears ‘reading buddies,’ so you will always have someone to read to,” said Angie Auderer, Pleasant View school secretary.

“The students will keep their unique bears at school and read with them at daily reading times. When the school year is over they will be able to take them home and keep them forever. One of our students is from North Carolina and staying with an aunt in Webster City while his mom is deployed with the U.S. Army. This particular bear is made from donated Army fatigues and she also put a dog tag on it with his mom’s name and rank on it.

Townsend “came back a week later and let each student choose one book that she received from a donation. We here at Pleasant View feel very lucky to have been blessed with such kindness! A huge shout out to Deb Townsend and her huge heart!”