Children of some local National Guard members will be able to find comfort when their parents are deployed overseas, thanks to a recent donation organized by a Henrico man.

At the Sandston Armory on June 15, LOGO Dynamics Incorporated’s Matt Davidson presented 75 National Guard teddy bears to Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Gagnon, State Family Programs Director Vickie L. Sais, and State Youth Coordinator Dana Ivory.

These bears, sporting shirts emblazoned with the National Guard symbol, will be distributed to the children of men and women in the Richmond area who are deployed for military service.

This was not Davidson’s first teddy bear donation; in 2008, he collected enough money to purchase 200 bears. He has acquired the necessary funds for this charity with the help of the Constant Contact e-mail marketing program.

Davidson utilized the program’s “event promotion” section to reach out to more than 300 contacts on his customer list and consequently received just more than $350 in donations. One such contributor was Bob Leahy from First Protection Equipment Company, who donated $250 – enough money to purchase 50 bears.

Davidson’s involvement in the effort stemmed from his membership in a community service group that organized an Armed Forces Day in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

A contact from National Guard Family Support presented the teddy bear idea to Davidson, who jumped at the chance to give back to the community.

Virginia has supplied citizen soldiers to all conflicts from the Indian wars of the 1600s to the global fight against terrorism today. A $5 donation is enough to purchase one bear and show a National Guard family that someone cares, Davidson said.

The effort to show support for National Guard families is ongoing and anyone wishing to make a donation should mail checks to: LOGO Dynamics, Inc., P.O. Box 891, Glen Allen, VA 23060, Attn: Matt Davidson.