ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Vero Beach Yacht Club’s ongoing effort to supply small, cuddly teddy bears to children in stress will be highlighted at the July 13 Sunset Saturday Night Concert on Vero’s Ocean Drive.

Concert-goers can donate bears and other furry critters at a specially dedicated tent while at the event or drop them off between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. July 16 – 20 at the clubhouse, 3601 Rio Vista Blvd., next to the City Marina.

The little creatures are then given to the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Medical Center’s ER Department, the IRC Sheriff’s Department and the Vero Beach Police Department. These organizations use them mostly to ease the fears of children in crisis, but they also are helpful in calming elderly hospital patients with dementia.

The teddy bear collection has been an activity of the club’s Shipmates auxiliary  for more than 10 years.