The goal is 300 teddy bears and as many children’s books as they can get … all being sought to help comfort kids as they battle cancer.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and local resident Nick Meyer is putting on what he is calling his “fun raiser” as he collects the teddy bears and books. It is the first time he has put on this type of event, and he is hopeful that residents will join in to support it.

Donations will be delivered to Central Valley Children’s Research Hospital, Meyer noted, as well as St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Meyer said he felt it was a good way to help bring a little joy to kids, providing a cuddly, colorful teddy bear and a book to read. He spent some time Tuesday morning delivering boxes for the collection effort, starting out first at Monkey’s Smog Center in Oakdale and then visiting several other area businesses, where the boxes are brightly decorated and ready to take donations.

The "fun raiser" will run throughout the month, with the kickoff on Tuesday, Sept. 1 and the collection effort continuing until Sept. 30.

Donation boxes are scheduled to be available during the month at PakMail, Monkey’s Smog Center, Sisters Coffee Shop, Steves Chevrolet, Oakdale Bicycle Shop, Outlaw Barbershop, Haidlen Ford, Oakies, Combs Equipment Co., AG Transmission Repair, Sonora Tires and Performance RV.

Meyer is hoping the effort will not only meet, but hopefully exceed, the 300 teddy bears goal and with dozens dropped into boxes on the first day, the collection appears to be off to a good start.

There were even free donuts for teddy bear and book donors offered at Monkey’s Smog Center early Tuesday morning, providing a sweet ‘thank you’ for the donations.