5 WINTER TEXAN TIMES www.wintertexantimes.com MARCH 11, 2026 Winter Texan TIMES Serving Winter Texans From Mission To South Padre Island Since 1987 Share our special TAKE HOME EDITION to show friends and family some of what makes the Rio Grande Valley such an amazing place to spend your winter. Pick up 5 or 10 extra copies of the March 18 Take Home Edition to take back in your car or RV, and share them with your friends and neighbors when you tell them what a great winter you enjoyed. If you would like to take home 25 copies or more, please call our office at 956-580-7800 before 5pm, March 12 to reserve a bundle to pick up at our office on or after March 18. BECOME A WINTER TEXAN AMBASSADOR Share the Rio Grande Valley with your friends & neighbors to the north cy, because emergency responders work together and the police are on the streets, the police may respond before the firefighters or ambulance gets there. The police can give them a situation report and direct traffic and identify nearby parking areas. In crisis, children need a toy. One police officer added that the teddy bears seem to have personalities. Bonham’s Bears member Rose Luck said “Yes, they do, because they are made with love and transmit that love.” Children’s Bereavement Center Rio Grande Valley (CBC-RGV) CBC-RGV offers free professional counselling to grieving children, teens and their families at their Harlingen and McAllen sites. There are therapy rooms, sensory rooms, peer support groups, individual and family counselling, grief camps, and grief education to teachers. Donations and volunteers are welcomed. Texas Department of Family Protective Services – Rainbow Room Connie Vega is regional coordinator over 17 Rainbow Rooms in 19 Texas counties. The Rainbow Rooms are open 24/7 to offer abused or neglected children a ray of hope by giving them new items. The Rainbow Room top 10 wish list (all items need to be new) includes diapers, car seats, school supplies, formula, personal hygiene items, toys and children’s books, children’s clothing, household cleaning supplies, blankets, and “pack ‘n’ play” portable play yards. 100% of your donations stay in your community. La Feria Volunteer Fire Department (also representing La Feria Police Dept.) As the Harlingen Police Department stated, emergency responders work together to support each other. Bonham’s Bears member Maple Frye offered her own story. She called 911 last year for an ambulance. The ambulance people needed help carrying her husband down the steps to the ambulance. They called the La Feria Fire Department, who quickly responded. Maple thanked them. The La Feria Fire Department asked if they could pick up teddy bears for the La Feria Police Department. Bonham’s Bears agreed to the request. The La Feria Police Department gave a written statement, “The teddy bears help us tremendously with the children we encounter while on duty, whether we are out on the road or assisting families in the office…. Providing a teddy bear helps children stay calm and feel safe … [in] an unfamiliar and stressful environment. The teddy bears truly put a smile on each child’s face. We sincerely thank you for what you do. We look forward to your generous donation every year.” Family Crisis Center The Family Crisis Center, Inc. offers a 24-hour hotline, 24-hour access to emergency shelter, counselling, violence prevention programs to schools, and its staff will accompany victims to the hospital, police interviews, and court proceedings. The Family Crisis Wish List includes towels, shampoo, body wash, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, diapers, canned food, baby food, baby formula, baby cereal, wipes, baby bottles, sippy cups, and women’s business wear (sizes XL, 2XL). Volunteers will be trained in publicity, fundraising, and clerical duties. Special Thanks Bonham’s Bears offers their thanks to Stephanie Green and 484th District Juvenile Court Judge Adela Kowalski-Garza for their donations to Bonham’s Bears. They also offer thanks to “The Winter Texan Times” for publishing news of our annual teddy bear giveaway event.
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