The church held its annual "Teddy Bear Sunday" on Feb. 14.
Hope Lutheran Church always shares a little extra love on Valentine's Day.
This year, the church announced, it donated 170 teddy bears to be split among Plant City Fire Rescue, Plant City Police Department and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. The bears will then be given to needy children.
"This annual event has become such a tradition for us," senior pastor Rev. Dean Pfeffer said, in a release. "Each bear is tagged with a note from Hope's Human Care Ministry Team and with the words of John 3:16 to remind the recipient of God's never-ending love for us. It is fun to watch the adults come to church carrying teddy bears and to see the joy on their faces as they give that bear to a child in need."
