A local group is giving you the chance to help bring hope and peace to children affected by the tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Operation Prayer Bear Hopes to deliver 10,000 teddy bears to the children in Newtown Connecticut. Each bear will be outfitted with a bible verse, a note, and prayers for their new owner.

Collections are taking place through December 20 at three Charlotte locations, as well as two locations in Weddington and one in Denver, NC.

On Friday volunteers will leave for Connecticut to distribute the bears Saturday.

Anyone interested can drop off a “huggable” size teddy bear or a monetary donation to any of the drop-off locations. All proceeds will be used to purchase and deliver bears and children’s Bibles to children.

Drop off points:

• Christlife Church – 8617 Providence Road, Charlotte – Donations accepted 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Penske Truck Rental – 3755 E.

The Hickory Police Department has started collecting toys and monetary donations for the Cops for Tots “Christmas Wish House.”

The program began in the early 1980’s, and served only about twelve families. It has expanded over the years and in 2008, almost 2,300 children benefited from the Cops for Tots program.

The Christmas Wish House will be at the Winkler Park Activity Center, which is next to the Hickory Crawdads Stadium on Clement Blvd.

The dates will be December 10 through the 12, from 9 a.m. to noon and 3 p.m.

CONCORD - Later this afternoon Charlotte Motor Speedway will kick off its busiest Thanksgiving week ever with the grand opening of Speedway Christmas, including special appearances by NASCAR Hall of Famer and five-time Coca-Cola 600 champion Darrell Waltrip and his brother, 1996 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race winner and NASCAR team owner Michael Waltrip.

The Waltrip brothers will make a special announcement regarding the speedway’s Season of Giving before helping Charlotte Motor Speedway President and General Manager Marcus Smith turn on the show’s more than 3 million lights and lead the way through opening night at the 3.5-mile holiday extravaganza.